FOREST AND STREAM. 



9 



doing, privileges to those who need them, and rights to 

 those who by a higher law are entitled to them. 



Our public waters in the Adirondack^, once stripped of 

 their still goodly stock of choice fish, would be of less 

 value than the land which now surrounds them when 

 stripped of its timber— not worth its taxes. And it is to 

 this condition that they are coming. Four years has less- 

 ened the speckled trout tenfold, and has increased fourfold 

 the number of "sportsmen" who have found out the inlets 

 which will rill their baskets with troutlings, and the tavern 

 keepers who will pay for their disreputable load. The 

 lakers are still comparatively plentiful, and for the brief 

 trolling season pay for your exertions; but the laker can 

 take care of himself— his little ones don't run up brooks 

 where short sighted men can scoop them out; when the 

 water gets warm his taste for a low temperature takes 

 him down to the lower depths out of the reach of any 

 spoon or gang. So he still lives, but this winter fishing 

 through the ice and set lines will eventually hurt the laker 

 supply. Then welcome chub. A thorough radical change 

 in such sections of the law as apply to our public waters 

 could be made which would stop this falling off. Permit 

 men to do what you can't help their doing; make it their 

 right, and depend upon them to defend their rights. Let 

 the woodsman feel that the law is his friend, that he can 

 feed himself and family, and still retain a power to break 

 up wanton destruction, and he will do it; and while legally 

 killing what he needs he will not do one whit more harm 

 than he now does, but vastly more good. Don't expect to 

 try your best to stop a courageous man from doing just 

 what he wants to do, thinks he has a right to do, and is 

 able to do in spite of you; and then expect him to put 

 himself into your power to punish by doing to a neighbor 

 what you have tried to do to liim. 



Far bettor tkan our own, would be a law based on the 

 system of the Japanese; by it all seasons are close, and all 

 land and inland waters preserved, and to shoot or fish, a 

 man must procure a license; but we are not Japs, and such 

 a state of affairs is not to be hoped for. • But it.would pay. 

 A reasonable price for a day's license, a still cheaper one 

 for a week's, and a guide's license at low figures, would 

 ensure a yearly revenue which could be expended in stock- 

 ing and preserving. Then, with chances to collect them, 

 attach heavy penalties to violations, — to bartering, or sell- 

 ing fish or game out of season — and we would have solved 

 the problem. 



I have in this letter assumed to write from the guide's 



point of view. I may be mistaken. I would be pleased 



to have my views fairly criticised in your columns. Such 



as they are they have been gathered and promulgated in 



the woods, among the woodsmen, and have met universal 



approbation. Nearly every wood ranger hated the very 



word Law when our talks began; nearly ever/ one before 



we were through expressed his willingness to support a 



law that was not unjust. Let us have this law, secure 



these volunteer game constables, stock our lakes and go a- 



fishing. Piseco. 



. ♦ 



Illinois. — The officers of the Illinois Sportsmen's Asso- 

 ciations are as follows: Law Committee, Col. E. Jussen, 

 Chicago; Charles Kellum, Sycamore; L. L. Palmer, Chica- 

 go. Delegates to National Convention, Charles E. Felton, 

 Chicago; Gen. John Tillson, Quincy; Hon. C. W. Monsh, 

 Sycamore; C. B. Miller, Geneseo (W.B. Han worth, alter- 

 nate); J. L. Pratt, Sycamore. 



Wisconsin. — Our sportsmen are awake on the question 

 of game preservation, and are determined to allow no 

 illegal shooting or snaring game in this section. In fact 

 sportsmen throughout the State are becoming more 

 thoroughly interested and aware of the necessity of prompt 

 and strict measures for the prevention of illegal practices 

 in shooting. But comparatively few deer have been 

 butchered through the close season so far as reported, as 

 several sportsmen in Northern Wisconsin have determined 

 not to suffer this most outrageous practice,and have achiev- 

 ed remarkable success. - Fred. 



Georgia. — A correspondent writes from Savannah as 

 follows: — "The Georgia Game Association is now in a flour- 

 ishing condition. It is forming a law which will be brought 

 before the next Legislature, the object which is to protect 

 game during the close season in the State of Georgia." 



Mbriden, Ct., July 29th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



Your correspondent "Scales?," complains very justly of the unlawful 

 tiout fishing which is earned on in the vicinity of Nianlic, and 1 do not 

 wonder that he characterizes the offence as piratical, etc. There is per- 

 haps, as he intimates, some excuse for ignorant boys when they inno- 

 cently break the laws, but for intelligent men, who claim to be sports- 

 men, it is simply a disgrace, to be engaged in such selfish and dishonor- 

 able practices. I know that it is not the popular thing to be continually 

 preaching for the preservation of our fish and game, and I lenow that 

 some are apt to call us "growlers," but I believe that if all the true and 

 right meaning sportsmen of this State, would come out like your corres- 

 pondent "Scales," we might possibly "shame the devil," and have sound 

 game laws enacted, with perhaps a game constable in each town to en- 

 force them. And when it is done, we may look for an increase of trout 

 in our streams, and plenty of game in the coverts. Von. G. 



Trap Shooting at Washington. — A few weeks ago, 

 for the purpose of making a test case, Mr. Theodore F. 

 Gatchell, President of the Society for the Prevention of 

 Cruelty to Animals, arrested several of the members of the 

 District Game Protective Association of Washington, 

 while they were participating in a pigeon shooting match 

 at Brightwood Park. The case was brought before Squire 

 Weaver, on the 2d and argued, competent counsel being 

 engaged on both sides. The point made against pigeon 

 shooting was that the wounding of pigeons caused unne- 

 cessary suffering. Squire Weaver sustained the view, and 

 decided in favor of the society. The case will be appealed, 

 and ultimately taken to the Supreme Court of the District 

 for a final decision. 



Volume Seventh.— The present issue begins the seventh 

 volume of Forest and Stream and the fourth year of 

 its existence. Nursed thus far throughout the most dis- 

 tressing financial period in the history of the country, we 

 feel gratified to note, as we do, each step of its progress to- 

 ward maturity and fixed establish ment . The paper is to day 

 in as healthy a financial condition as need be, though we 

 must say it needs more prompt remittances from its numer- 

 ous debtors to enable it to keep its back-bone as stiff as it 

 ought to be. There are very large amounts due us, and 

 many of our advertising patrons have been in arrears for 

 months. We beg all, therefore, to remit as promptly as 

 possible, as we are not disposed to publish the paper gratu- 

 itously. Besides, we can greatly improve this journal if 

 we can keep a wholesome balance in bank, and thereby the 

 better serve the interests of all our readers and subscribers. 



Per contra we cannot too gratefully thank those firms 

 who have remitted promptly, and especially those who, 

 apprehending our possible necessities, have paid for their 

 advertisements several weeks in advance. The disposition 

 shown by many of our patrons to sustain the paper in these 

 troublous times is most gratifying, and shows a disinterest- 

 edness greatly to be appreciated. 



Nunquam animus: Sed awe captt|\'— Never mind, but 

 go ahead . 



Central Park News.— The Menagerie at Central Park 

 has been rather neglected by Park Commissioners for several 

 years, but the activity of the Director, Mr. W. A. Conklin, 

 manages to keep it in presentable shape. When, a few 

 months ago, the Commissioners declined to longer support 

 the animals deposited there, the owners — largely show- 

 man—took many of them away, and the lion house con- 

 sequently has rather a deserted look; but a few were left, 

 there were a good many owned by the Park which of course 

 remained, and many have since been added by loan or 

 otherwise, so that the Menagerie is still a worthy attraction 

 to the crowds of visitors. During the coming winter an 

 effort will be made to organize a Society with a capital of 

 over $200,000 for the formation of Zoological Gardens on 

 a grand scale. It is hoped that the Legislature will em- 

 power the Commissioners to set aside a portion of the Park 

 for such Gardens; but the Commissioners themselves are 

 opposed to this at present, claiming that they cannot spare 

 the room, and propose that the Gardens shall be situated 

 in Westchester county. This, the zoologists feel, would be 

 altogether too far away; and expect, by offering one or 

 two free days in the week, to persuade the Park authori- 

 ties of the advisability of granting space within the Park 

 limits. However, nothing will be done at present; and we 

 reserve for the future any comment further than to express 

 our hearty support of any movement looking to the estab- 

 lishment of zoological gardens. 



The United States Geological Survey.— Dr. Hayden 

 in charge of this Government survey is just taking the 

 field, having been delayed until now by the quarrels in 

 Congress. He has a small portion of Colorado to finish. 

 Dr. Eliott Coues will accompany the Survey, and writes to 

 the Bod and Qun that there will probably be four parties 

 in the field with Cheyenne as the rendezvous. One topo- 

 graphical party will work in the southwestern portion of 

 Colorado, another in the region of the Sierra la Sal, whence 

 the expedition was driven last year by some renegade In- 

 dians; and a third will go west through the Middle Park 

 into the northwestern portion of the Territory. The 

 movements of the fouitb, or zoological party, under Dr. 

 Coues's charge, is not decided upon, and will depend upon 

 the facilities at hand for transporting collections, and the 

 most eligible field. 



, •+•■+■ ■ 



— A hotel is now in process of erection at Matanzas, ten 

 miles below St. Augustine, Florida, and a steamer is being 

 constructed at New Smyrna, to run on the Halifax River. 

 There will be overland connection next w r inter between 

 the Halifax and St. Johns rivers via Crescent Lake and 

 Dunn's Creek. All these improvements afford facilities 

 long much needed. 



— We are informed that Mr. Alfred Jones is building a 

 large addition to his house at Homosassa, Florida, to be 

 ready for guests in December. This will be good news for 

 Florida tourists, who have been disappointed in obtaining 

 accommodations at this delightful spot hitherto. 

 -<>♦♦- 



Kill the Cats. — Perhaps no one has ever considered 

 the immense amout of danger done to game by cats, both 

 domesticated and those that have taken to the woods and 

 live there in a half wild state. A friend informs us that 

 two whole bevys of quails which have been frequenting 

 his stubble fields, have been exterminated by one worthless 

 cat, smart enough to keep out of range of his gun. There 

 are doubtless some good cats who devole their lives to 

 the pursuit of vermin, such as rats and mice ; and there 

 are others who prefer game suppers to any other kind. For 

 the latter we would suggest No. 6 shot and a short road to 

 the bone -yard. 



— . -^*f — 



Adirondack Guide. — The Forest and Stream Company, 

 which has purchased and now holds the copyright for 

 Wallace's Guide to the Adirondacks, has just issued a new 

 edition for the current year, which is advertised elsewhere 

 in our columns. No one who goes to the Wilderness should 

 be without this Guide, which all the best authorities pro- 

 nounce the only perfect guide out — and so it is. In it 

 nothing is omitted which the tourist and sportsman desires 

 to know. The map is one of its most desirable features, 

 and will be found, accurate. 



The Drought and Game Birds.— We have but recent- 

 ly passed through an unusually long season of drought, 

 but we cannot hear of its having in any way injured the 

 birds. Not so in England, where they have been similarly 

 afflicted. An exchange pays: — 



"In Huntingdonshire the clays are fairly burnt up, and 

 great cracks are visible on the pastures and ley ground; and 

 from the stiff soils in Worcestershire we hear the same 

 complaint, one correspondent lamenting that the young 

 partridges and pheasants, which had hatched off well, 

 tumble into the fissures of the soil caused by the baking 

 sun, and perish accordingly." 



Our quail suffer severely sometimes from excessive rains 



drowning out the young birds, but never from such causes 



as the above. 



«*♦♦ 



— The wire cable to be used as an endless chain in stretch- 

 ing the wires over the river for the East River Bridge ar- 

 rived at the New York anchorage on Saturday. It was 

 made by the Roebling Works at Trenton, N. J., and is 

 7,310 feet in length. It is expected that it will be in posi- 

 tion by Monday next. 



. «»•<*» 



—This day, August 10th, is designated as the culminating 

 period of the August meteoric showers, and those ^ho gaze 

 upward to night will be likely to see stars — thick. 



Shai (Bun nnd Mifie. 



£Si> Q32) S2S^ I 



05 



♦ 



GAME NOW IN SEASON. 



Woodcock, Phllohela minor. Red-backed sandpiper, or ox-bird, 



Black-bellied plover or ox-eye,Squa- Tringa americana. 



tarola helvetica. Gr*at 'marbled godwit, or marlin, 



Ring plover, JEgialitis semijpal- ±,imosa fedoa. 



maim. Willet, Totanus semipalmatvs. 



Stilt, or long-shanks, Eimantopus Tattler, Totanus melanoleucvs. 



nigrkollu. Yellow-shanks, Totanus flavipes. 



Red-breasted snipe or dowitcher, 



Macrorhamphus grisevs. 



* ■ 



"Bay-birds" generally, including various species of plover, sand-piper, 

 snipe, curlew, oyster-catcber, surf-birds, phalaropes, avocets, etc., com 

 ing under the group Limlcolce. or Shore Birds. 



RUFFED GROUSE SHOOTING. 



DOUBTLESS many of our friends are, with us, looking 

 forward with pleasure to the time, September first, 

 when we may commence the shooting of that noble 

 game bird, the ruffed grouse (miscalled in many places 

 pheasant or partridgeV, yet how few, even among th'e 

 "crack shots" of the country, understand the habits of and 

 are really skilled in the pursuit of this game. We remem- 

 ber well our first visit to Newton, N. J,, full twenty years 

 ago, where we formed the acquaintance of Mr. Peter 

 Hoppaugh, Mr. James Shaffer, Mr. James L. Northrop, 

 and Mr. Theo. Morford, the latter at that time being quite 

 young in years, but handling his dog and gun like a veteran, 

 " Phil," his splendid black-and-can bitch being then in her 

 prime. 



At the time of our visit we had had full twenty years of 

 almost constant practice in the way of field sports, and 

 felt very confident we had learned about all that was worth 

 knowing in the way of shooting quail, woodcock, snipe, 

 and ruffed grouse. But when we come to shoot the latter 

 game with those gentlemen, we found that we had very 

 much to learn in order to be the equal of either of them. 

 We do not mean in killing this bird when we got within 

 shooting distance of it, but in the proper mode of hunting 

 it in order to get the best chance to bring it to bag. After 

 shooting a few days we became fully convinced that we 

 had never met with any shooters to be compared with them 

 in bagging grouse. The question may then be asked, how 

 is it that they have such extraordinary skill? In answer 

 to this question let us say that in the section of the country 

 alluded to, at that time, the ruffed* grouse could be found 

 in sufficient numbers to make it sport equal to any we have 

 ever enjoyed; and the shooting of this bird had become a 

 perfect infatuation with those gentlemen, and they, having 

 devoted years in the pursuit of this variety of game, had 

 acquired a full knowledge of their habits. And then, by 

 so much practice their dogs, too, knowing the wild nature 

 of the game, would work to a charm. 



All experienced sportsmen know how rare it is to meet 

 with a good snipe dog. Those only are good which have 

 been raised and broken on that game, and thus it is with 

 ruffed grouse. A dog, in order to understand and work 

 properly on this game, must be broken specially for the 

 purpose, and such dogs, instead of dashing over the ground 

 with a regular beat, at a high rate of speed, as soon as they 

 enter the cover they will settle down to slow, cautious 

 work, frequently using their eyes to spy out the spots where 

 the grouse generally lie, and then getting themselves quietly 

 to leaward, approach very cautious with their noses to the 

 wind, and stopping the instant they get the faintest scent 

 of the game; and then, as there is a perfect understanding 

 between the shooter and his dog, the former is enabled to 

 get in position to shoot in case the bird will not lie to point, 

 as is often the case. At the first rise, when the bird rises 

 before the sportsman can get within shot, or it is missed, 

 its course is marked with wonderful accuracy, not only by 

 the shooter, but frequently by the dog. But that which 

 astonished us most was the fixing of the spot where a bird 

 which had flown entirely out of sight would alight. Our 

 first shoot in old Sussex was with the genial host of the 

 Farmers' Hotel, Peter Hoppaugh, and his famous old dog 

 "Dock." "Dock" was a "dropper," but having the ap- 

 pearance of a well bred pointer, colors liver and white, and 

 as spotted as a coach dog/, and what our friend Peter and 

 "Dock" did not know about ruffed grouse shooting is not 

 worth knowing. ^On this day, just as we were approaching 



