186 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



, « — i — 



GAME NOW IN SEASON. 



Moose, Alces maichis. Pinnated grouse or prairie chicken, 



Cariboo, Tarandus rangifer. Cupidonia cupido. 



Elk or wapiti, Oervus canadensis. Ruffed srou.se or pheasant, JBonasa 



Red or Virginia deer, C . wrginianus, wnbellus. 



Squirrels, red, black and gray. Quail or partridge, Ortyx Virginia- 



Hares, brown and gray. nus. 



Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopa- Woodcock, Philohela minor. 



vo 



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

 snipe, curlews,oyster-catchers,surf-birds, phalaropes, avocets, etc., com- 

 ing under the group Limicolw or Shore Birds. 



A Neat Contrivance. — One of the neatest and hand- 

 iest implements wnich goto make up a sportsman's kit has 

 been handed to us by Mr. E. D. McCrackland, of Tenafly, 

 N. J. It. is nothing more or less than a box containing a 

 series of India-rubber stamps, with pad and ink, for mark- 

 ing the No. of the shot with which cartridges are loaded. 

 After the shell is loaded and turned it takes but an instant 

 to stamp the No. on the shot wad in neat and distinct fig- 

 ures. The apparatus is manufactured by Messrs. Scott & 

 Co., No. 291 Broadway. 



Tiie Oame of Newfoundland. — We find in the To 

 ronto Globe the following capital account of the game of 

 Newfoundland : — 



"The 15th of September is the date at which legalized 

 partridge shooting commences; and as the weather is very 

 favorable, a strong force of sportsmen are at present in the 

 field. Our partridge are very fine birds, quite equal to 

 the Scotch grouse, and indeed resembling them so closely 

 that it is difficult to make out any specific difference 

 between the red grouse, gorcock, or moorcock of Scotland, 

 and those of Newfoundland. On the table they are a most 

 delicious &rticle of food, whether roasted, stewed, or in 

 white soups. All visitors to our shores admit that the 

 flavor of a plump partridge, well cooked, is unsurpassed in 

 richness and delicacy. They are also of respectable pro- 

 portions, a brace of them, in season, weighing from three 

 to three and a half pounds. In certain localities, at a dis- 

 tance from settlements, they are very abundant, and 

 sportsmen frequently bag from twenty to thirty brace in 

 a day. Nothing can be finer than a day's partridge shoot- 

 ing over our breezy hills and dales in the fine autumn 

 weather. The balmy air, the bright skies, the wild and 

 sometimes grand scenery, the countless lakelets that form 

 a feature of the landscape, the woods assuming every- 

 where the golden tints of autumn, the wild flowers still 

 abundant, the gracefully rounded hills— all these, with the 

 excitement of the sport, furnish to a lover of nature a day 

 of rapturous enjoyment. And then the sportsman's sup- 

 per, after the day's tramp, with roasted or stewed partridge 

 as the staple, and possibly a glass or two of the famous 

 Newfoundland port (the genuine article from Lisbon, 

 ripened and mellowed by the sea voyage and residence in 

 a cool climate) to wash down the good things, will wind up 

 a day which will long remain a green spot in memory's 

 waste. 



"Our ptarmigan or partridge are of a reddish brown 

 color, with red about the eyes, and a few white feathers 

 in summer. In winter the brown color gradually disap- 

 pears, as in the Alpine hare, and the bird becomes almost 

 pure white. They are to be found in all parts of the 

 island, but the bare highlands, where they are covered 

 with berry-bearing plants, are their favorite localities. In 

 plear weather they are found about the skirts of the woods 

 and in the tucking bushes, and are theu very wild and diffi- 

 cult to reach. When the weather is foggy, however, they 

 come out on the barrens and marches, and are then very 

 tame, merely flying a few yards even when shot at before 

 they alight again. It is quite customary here to despatch 

 a box of partridges in a frozen state to friends in Scotland 

 and England about Christmas; and a most acceptable pre- 

 sent they prove. Owing to the great number of sportsmen 

 who go in pursuit of the partridges they are becoming 

 every year scarcer in the neighborhood of St. John's and 

 to get a thoroughly good day's shooting it is necessary to 

 travel many miles. 



"In audition to the ptarmigan, the sportsman meets with 

 the wild goose, which breeds in the most secluded ponds, 

 and brings its young ones down the brooks, well grown, by* 

 the end of June or beginning of July. It is a remarkably 

 fine bird, easily domesticated, but d' es not breed when 

 tamed. It is about the size of the common goose, but 

 with a more swan-like form, and has a black ring round 

 its neck, being a variety of the Anser canadensis. The 

 black duck is also found in fresh water during the summer. 

 Its plumage is a dark sombre brown; it is shy, but abund- 

 ant in some spots, and is a most delicate table bird. The 

 real epicure, however, prefers the curlew to all others. 

 They arrive at this time from Labrador, where they mi- 

 grate to breed, and are in prime condition after feeding for 

 months on the ripe berries. These, with the snipe and 

 plover, to say nothing of the noble deer that are to be met 

 with in countless thousands in the interior, furnish abund- 

 ant employment for the enthusiastic sportsman." 



A Coon H$jnt.— Our Albany correspondent sends us 

 the following account of a coon hunt in which he recently 

 participated:— "A week ago yesterday I with a friend 

 who lives at Larrabee's Point, on Lake Champlain, where 

 I was visiting, went out for some sport with the grey squir- 

 rels. We shot fifteen. While shooting we heard a couple 

 of hounds set up a cry in a swamp about half a mile from 

 us, and upon investigation found Mr. 'Coon' hanging him- 

 self up a tree to keep away from the trouble below. We 

 both fired a charge of No. 4 into him, which released his 

 grip on the tree. When we reached him, which we did 

 with difficulty through a heavy growth of 'button brush,' 

 the dogs were guarding him, and we took Mr. Raccoon in 

 charge, and found he weighed 20 pounds 8 ounces, which 

 we thought a very large one. It is the only one I ever 

 shot and am not posted as to their average weight. Please 

 give me your idea of it. I forgot to mention that the 

 hounds belonged to a gentleman living in the vicinity, and 

 wm-o nnt on a private hunt, in which we uninvited, inter- 

 fered." 



—Our old fiiend, Maj. H. W. Meirill, writes to put in a 

 good word for the Deer Park region in Gariett county, 

 Md., which he says: "Is not as I had supposed it, a mere 

 hunter's lodge and grounds in the wilderness, but in fact a 



fashionable, popular place or summer resort. Its eleva- 

 tion is 2,700 feet above the sea. It lies on the Baltimore 

 and Ohio Railroad, about 230 miles from Baltimore and 

 Cincinnati. It is roached just as the cars, after climbing 

 the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains, arrive at the 

 summit level. Here the road for a few miles gently winds 

 along through the centre of an open and quiet valley, half 

 a mile in breadth, which is bordered and overlooked on 

 either side by one of the most beautiful and enchanting 

 of open park oaklands imaginable, nearly all in a natural 

 state. Both valley and woodlaud, fed by the perpetual 

 showers and dews of the mountains, remains fresh and 

 green the summer round. The hotel stands upon the north- 

 ern slope of this valley, and a southern view from its pi- 

 azza commands both the valley and the mountain's side. 

 The house is in every sense what may be termed first-class. 

 It accommodates about 200. A fountain is kept playing 

 in front, and the grounds, which are beautiful by nature, 

 are well laid out into romantic walks and drives. The 

 whole 100 acres are exclusively for the guests. Deer Park 

 opens right into the forests, and hence is the most conven- 

 ient for sportsmen. The game found comprises the 

 bear, deer, turkey, partridge, rabbits, and qual. The three 

 former are to be found by hard work in the mountains, but 

 the three latter, especially partridges andrabbits, are found 

 right at hand, and are abundant. This is a celebrated place 

 for wild pigeons." 



Massachusetts— Hew Bedford, Oct. 12th.— Game birds 

 are more abundant than for many years. G-. A. White 

 shot 44 quails, and 1 partridge (grouse) with 3 woodcock 

 in one day this week. Shore birds, snipe, plover, etc., are 

 quite plenty. Hundreds of partridges are snared and 

 brought to town daily. A countryman who offered some 

 for sale last week was complained of, but on examination 

 it was discovered that our wise Legislature in perfecting 

 the^game law had nullified the whole ordinance, and so 

 the criminal was permitted to go scot free. Concha. 



Cohasset Oct. 23d — Gunning has been very fair this week ; 

 too heavy fog for good sport. The cold weather has started 

 the brant, and large bags have been taken at the Brant 

 Rock, Marshfield, within sight of Daniel Webster's old 

 house; also a few geese and black ducks. A pelican was 

 shot at North Scituate this week, a rare bird for this 

 country. S. K. Jk. 



Salem, Oct. 21st. — The quail season opened rather poorly 

 for weather, but the craft turned out pretty well in this 

 vicinity : 3 quail to tw r o guns at Danvers; 7 quail, 2 par- 

 tridges to one gun at Danvers; 12 quail, 5 partridges, 8 

 woodcock to D. P. W. and party; 2 quail, 1 woodchuck — 

 uot woodcock — to our colored IN lmrod friend C. F. Weath- 

 er — very high winds and cold, with snow on the ground, 

 and birds flying badly. I have also to say the coot fusil- 

 ade still holds out, though fluctuating. Snow birds are 

 not all gone. A friend brought home last Monday from 

 near here 28 birds, including grass birds, beetle head, 3 

 Wilson snipe and 1 wood duck. " Teal. 



Connecticut — I have just returned from Willimantic, 

 Connecticut, and it is just as I said it would be last year, 

 when I found the whole county lined with snares. This 

 year, though a good one, there are no birds. I hunted 

 through the best ground carefully, and found three birds 

 in two days! Vive ia snare! W. Holbekton. 



New Youk— ITorneUsville, Oct. 16th.— Gtronse shooting is 

 improving. Fair bags were made all last week; the best 

 was nine grouse and two cocks; also some good bags of 

 quail and snipe. John. 



Meacham Lake, Oct. 15th.— Our fall hunting is at its best. 

 A member of the First Brigade Staff shot a buck yester- 

 day weighing 230 pounds — five prongs on each horn; the 

 head goes to New York. Thermometer 21° at 6 a. in. 

 Snow enough to make the ground look white. Geese, 

 ducks, yellow-legs and plover flying south. Very few of 

 the summer birds with us. A. R. F. 



Hornelhmlle, Oct. 23d. — We are having splendid weather 

 here just now but the leaves are too dry for grouse shoot- 

 ing; good bags of grouse and quail were made last week. 

 Rabbits are very plentiful. "John." 



North Carolina— Currituck, Oct. 15th. — Ducks and 

 geese are becoming numerous in our waters and the pros- 

 pects are bright for good shooting. Sportsmen who are 

 not members of clubs can find good accommodations, with 

 board, for $2 per day at Poplar Branch, by writing to D. 

 W. LinUsey. Charges for gunner, $3. 



Davis's Hotel— KitttelVs, Oct. 18^.— This place I find is 

 quite a resort for sportsmen, principally from Boston and 

 neighboring towns. It is a real pleasure to stop at a place 

 like this. A good "square meal," a comfortable room and 

 bed (hair mattrasses and springs on every bed) are quite a 

 desideratum to the tired sportsman. Col. Davis, the pro- 

 proprietor, was formerly proprietor of the Winthrop 

 House, Boston, which is sufficient recommendation for any 

 one. Quail are in abundance, in fact, I have never found 

 birds so plenty any where, except in Texas. The farmers 

 or planters do not object to shooting on their plantations. 

 They are anxious to have sportsmen come as the birds being 

 so plenty, are veiy destructive to their corn, peas, and all 

 small grain. In fifteen minutes walk from the hotel good 

 shooting can be found. Horses and wagons are kept by 

 the Col. for the use of his boarders. Good shooting during 

 the next three or four months. Reached in 30 hours from 

 New York via. Baltimore; steamer to Portsmouth; Sea- 

 board and Roanoke Railroad to Weldon; Raleigh and Gas 

 ton Railroad to Kittiells. This was at one time quite a 

 noted southern summer resort. A fine chalybeate spring 

 but a short walk from the hotel. The piazzas are large and 

 enclosed with glass, face directly east makes a fine prom- 

 anade for ladies or invalids. T. B. R. 



Wisconsin— Janesville, Oct. 10th. — The duck shooting at 

 Lake Koshkonong is better this fall than ever before. The 

 inforcement of the law prohibiting sneak boats and bat- 

 teries undoubtedly accounts for this. The first canvas- 

 back was killed last Tuesday, and hundreds have been 

 bagged since. R. V. 



Texas— Galveston, Oct. 12th. — Game is beginning to be 

 plentiful here now. Snipe of several species in large flocks; 

 curlews by tbe thousands; killdeer are also very plentiful. 

 There is any quantity of ducks in West Bay awaiting a 

 norther and rain, as the ponds are pretty near all dried out. 

 They consist of the following varieties: Mallard, blue and 

 green-winged teal, gray ducks, big and little blue-bill, the 

 red head, canvas-back, golden -eye, top-knots, and various 

 other kinds. Geese and brant have made an appearance 

 in large numbers. I and another bagged last week 14 pair 



of teals, 8 pair wild ducks, and lots of smaller game. Prai- 

 rie chickens, and partridges in large numbers about twelve' 

 or fourteen miles from here. We have any amount of 

 sport here. Fishing is very good. Two or three youncr 

 sportsmen went down about five miles fourteen daysago° 

 and caugnt thirty fine trout and nineteen young redfish.' 

 besides lots of smaller fish. 



All we ask is, sportsmen, come pay us a visit, and they will 

 not regret it. I believe we have the finest beach here in 

 the world. Subscriber. 



New Brunswick.— Arrangements are being made for a 

 grand battue hunt about the 10th of October over the 

 Douglass Mountains, Queens county, 25 miles from St. 

 John, N. B., where it is understood game is plenty. It 

 was proposed that sixty sportsmen can make the trip to 

 Welsferd Station, where teams would be in readiness to 

 take one part up the Nerepis road about six miles, and the 

 other up the Douglass Valley the same distance, where 

 they will join, and drive the game before them towards 

 the base of the mountains in sight of Welsford, where will 

 be the grand finale. 



Shooting is reported as being very good at Mace's Bay, 

 Charlotte county, 21 miles from St, John, plover, duck| 

 etc., it is said, being very plentiful just now. Sportsmen 

 will find excellent accommodations, good boats, reliable 

 guides, reasonable charges, etc., at Mr. Albert Craft's, who 

 is a good sportsman and a genial companion. — Telegraph. 



RULES FOR TRAP SHOOTING. 



Virginia, Nev., Oct. 10th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Our club here has a proposition on the table to amend the shooting 

 rules so as to abolish the boundaries of 80 and 100 rards, and iu their 

 place allow three minutes 1 time to retrieve (single) birds; this time being 

 the only boundary. In its favor we hear the old plea of making trap 

 shooting to resemble shooting in the field as nearly as may be, etc., and 

 that many o!d clubs east and newly formed ones have adopted the time 

 plan to the exclusion of the boundary lines. Is this latter assertion 

 true, and what is your opinion of this proposition? 



Another important question: When our birds fail to fly (that is, 

 "droppers") from plunge traps, we are accustomed to endeavor to flush, 

 them, if the shooter does not call for another bird, and often the bird 

 walks a few yards away from the trap. Now, if the shooter pleases, he 

 can call for another bird at any time before the bird flies, which of 

 course he does, if the bird goes away from him. Now, such being his 

 privilege by custom, (only) does it not follow that his opponent should 

 have the privilege of objecting to the bird being taken in the event of its 

 appearing to be a too easy bird? For instance, when it walks towards 

 the shooter, say from one to eight yards. Tour reply will much oblige 

 our Virginia Shooting Club. Benj. Robinson. 



With regard to the first question of our correspondent, 

 we would say that we highly approve of the time limit for 

 recovering a bird over the old fashion boundaries. Al- 

 though it has not yet come into general use, we are confi- 

 dent that it will, and it has already been adopted by some 

 leading clubs. Among these we might mention the Phil- 

 adelphia Sportsmen's Club, who now shoot under the three 

 minute time limit. They have found it to work admira- 

 bly, and to the exclusion of all wrangling and misunder- 

 standing. As regards the second question, we think that 

 it should be left to the discretion of the referee. With 

 some clubs the rule is that when a bird drops close to the 

 trap and walks three feet in any direction it is then "no 

 bird," and we think the rule a good one. 



GUNNING ACCIDENTS. 



Baltimore, Oct. 29th. 

 Epitir Torest and Stream:— 



la your last issue I notice the serious accident that happened to Dr. 

 Thebau Id while loading shells. There is no reason why such an acci- 

 dent should occur, if persons filling shells would adopt my plan— i e, 

 charge your shells first, and cap after loading. By following this plan 

 such accidents would be impossible. I woild be glad if you would call 

 tbe attention of your sporting friends to this matter, as it will doubtless 

 save the maiming of some one of your many readers. P. P. P. 



All very well, but is not the force required to press the 

 cap into place after the cartridge is loaded just as likely 

 to explode the shell as the slight tap necessary to force the 

 wad into place? We apprehend that if sportsmen will, 

 one and all, recognize the fact that hard ramming is not 

 only unnecessary, but that it breaks up the grains of pow- 

 der, accidents of this nature would be uncommon. 



. •«-»-»• 



OIL FOR GUNS. 



New York, October 11th, 1676. 

 Messrs. Holberton & Beemer:— 



Bear Sirs— I have given your new oil a fair trial. I keep two guns on 

 board of a yacht on the salt water. I have never been able to keep them 

 free from rust until 1 used your "Rust Preventer," and I find that it is 

 the best lubricator for breech-loading guns and rifles I have ever used, 

 and will cheerfully recommend the oil to all sportsmen, for it will stand 

 the test for all you claim for it. T. B, Broadway. 

 -•*♦ 



—The Pacific Life expresses the belief that the Califor- 

 nia National Guard can find in its ranks a team of marks- 

 men able to cope successfully with any thus far figuring at 

 Creedmoor, and hopes next year to see a California team 

 at Creedmoor making a fight in the Inter- State match. 

 We should certainly rejoice at such an event. 



What the English Press Say of the International 

 Match.— We must do our English cousins the credit of 

 being unstinting in their praises of the shooting in the late 

 matches. Indeed, as we have before remarked, in rifle 

 shooting|there appears to be much less of the feeling of 

 jealousy and recrimination which attends other interna- 

 tional contests; perhaps the difference in the nature and 

 value of the prizes, or the absence of the pernicious ac- 

 companiment of the pool box may in a measure account 

 for it. Or, again, because there is nothing "professional" 

 in rifle shooting, and hence no desire to emulate the per- 

 formances of the professional. Our English contemporary, 

 the Volunteer Service Gazette, devotes much of its space to 

 tbe details of the match, and prints the £ cores in full. It 



