FOREST AND STREAM. 



197 



WB 



p*fi#mg. 



Trapping in Virginia.— Those enterprising purveyors 

 of information, known as daily newspapers, have just dis- 

 covered that beavers are abundant in many counties of 

 Virginia, causing much annoyance by their depredations; 

 and a paragraph like this is going the rounds: — 



"Many years ago beavers were very numerous, but of 

 recent years they have almost disappeared. Their re-ap- 

 pearance on the old feeding grounds causes much sur- 

 prise." 



Meanwhile some of the readers of Forest and Stream, 

 which is usually several months or weeks ahead of any of 

 its contemporaries in such matters as come within its special 

 scope and province, have been trapping beavers for two 

 years past in Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Brunswick, Cumber- 

 land and other counties, and a few of them have realized 

 quite profitable returns. For instance, there is the veteran 

 trap-maker, Mr. Newhouse, who made his headquarters in 

 Greenville county last winter; he realized some $900 by 

 his expedition, besides selling several hundred dollars' 

 worth of steel traps. And two of our subscribers from Con- 

 necticut, and others from Central New York, went down 

 to Brunswick and Nottoway, and when they had harvested 

 their packs of pelts and were ready to leave, taught the 

 native young "ehincopins" and negroes to set traps, so that 

 they, too, might add to their scanty earnings. More than 

 oac small farmer has had occasion to bless the strangers 

 who came among them and showed them how to catch fur. 

 For fur is worth money, and not only are beavers caught, 

 but otters, mink, and muskrats in considerable abundance. 

 Prime otter skins are usually quoted in the market at $8 to 

 $10; mink, $1.25; muskrat, 25 cents; beaver, $1.00. Last 

 fall we had numerous inquiries, which have now begun 

 again, as to where to go, how to go, and what it will cost 

 to live on the line. To give prompt information, and an- 

 swer once for all, we will say here that if our trapping 

 friends will fix their local habitations on any of the streams 

 in the counties named, they will not fail of success. The 

 cost of gel ting there by the Old Dominion steamers is only 

 $10 or $12. Take a complete camping outfit, with dog and 

 gun, blankets, Duncklee's stove with cooking utensils, 

 some flour, meal, salt, sugar, pickles, tea and bacon, and 

 either get leave to occupy -some cabin, or extemporize a 

 shelter that will shed rain. Your gun will supply you with 

 all the fresh meat you can eat— venison, quail, rabbits, and 

 squirrels, and whatever eggs or milk is wanted can be ob- 

 tained from the neighboring farmers. By this method of 

 managing it will not cost $10 in money to keep you all 

 through the winter until the trapping season ends. Mr. 

 Newhouse says that it only cost him $10, and he lived right 

 royally. He is 70 years of age, and he ought not to be 

 able to stand rougher usage than younger men. Take a 

 bag of assorted traps, including one bear trap. 



Besides putting money in his own purse, the trapper in 

 Virginia will do the residents a great service by killing off 

 the "vermin" that destroy their crops, and thereby save, as 

 well as earn. "We have ourselves seen acres of corn total- 

 ly destroyed by the beavers down there, and we know that 

 the havoc they make with the grain causes a serious loss to 

 needy and struggling people. 



FASHIONS FOR LADIES' FURS. 



THERE have been decided changes in the fashions of 

 furs within a few years. Formerly a muff with collar 

 or boa satisfied the longings ot a woman's heart in this 

 direction. If she were rich, a set of sable was the object 

 of desire; if her means were limited, a mink set would 

 satisfy her. Now there are a number of fur garments. 

 There are sacques and Dolmans of seal-skin, cloaks with 

 luxurious fur linings, seal-skin hats and turbans, and fur 

 borders for trimming her costumes, her wraps, and even 

 her bonnets, and the variety from which she is to select has 

 increased with the demand, until the list of fashionable 

 furs contains the names of almost all the fur-bearing ani- 

 mals in the world. 



Rusian saute is still chosen by people who want the best 

 things of its kind. $800 buys a superb dark set, with boa 

 two yards long and a muff with five stripes. Lower-priced 

 lighter shades now begin as low as $100 for sets that 

 formerly brought $200. Hudson Bay sables are still prized 

 for their durability and warmth. The finest sets are made 

 of the sable tails, and are nearly altogether of the darkest 

 shades. These cost $300, and have five stripes on the muff. 

 Lighter sets begin as low as $60. 



Muffs are of the medium size worn last year. Boas are 

 longer, measuring two yards, and are round, with the ex- 

 ception of seal boas, which are made flat on account of their 

 short fleece. 



Fisher-tail sets rank next the sable, which thev resemble 

 in their dark blackish-brown hues and long, soft fur. 

 They are much worn with garments trimmed with a border 

 of the same. Their prices range from $80 to $150 the set. 

 A handsome muff to wear with a wrap trimmed with Usher- 

 tail bauds costs about $75. Sets made of the backs of the 

 fisher-skins are not nearly as dark as the tail sets, and cost 

 about $50 to $80. 



It is said the velvet-like shaded gray chinchilla will be 

 the most fashionable fancy fur for sets, for trimmings, and 

 also ior cloak linings. Africa chinchilla ft the choiest, and 

 is of finest gray shades. The muffs are made of the backs 

 of the skins, showing their dark stripes. Bolivian chin- 

 chilla is of more brownish-gray, and is similarly shaded. 

 The muff and boa cost from $40 to $80. 



The long gray fleece of the silver-fox is as light as mara- 

 bout feathers, and is tipped with silver points that look 

 like thisile down. But beautiful as this fur is, it does not 

 repay the money spent on it . Candid furriers acknowledge 

 that it has little warmth of itself, and is so fragile that it 

 will not wear well during a single season; the silver ooints 

 wear off, no matter how carefully it is used. Handsome 



muffs of the fur, with the dark stripe of the back of the 

 animals passing around the middle, and lighter fur on the 

 ends, are $65; the boa to match will be the same price. 

 The dark parts of the silver-fox are made up into expen- 

 sive sets that ladies call black fox, though dealers say there 

 is no such thing as black fox fur, strickly speaking. These 

 dark sets are very expensive. 



Blue fox is one of the prettiest and most fashionable of 

 the inexpensive furs, and makes the best show for the 

 money; but unfortunately it is not durable, and seldom 

 lasts more than a season's wear. It has long, thick, fine 

 fleece in natural shades, and costs from $20 to $30 a set. 



Ladies who choose their furs for use and comfort, and want 

 tasteful things that are not pretentious, buy a neat set of 

 seal-skin; this is also the best choice for those young girls 

 who do not want anything so dressy and so frail as chin- 

 chilla. All seal-skin is dyed, as the natural color is a dull 

 brown. The rain does not affect good English-dyed seal- 

 skin, but some very dark American-dyed skins will rub off, 

 and will mat" together after having been wet. The reader 

 is advised that seal-skins when damp should not be hung 

 near the fire to dry, but should be well shaken and dried 

 by the natural heat of the room. Alaska seal sets are 

 chosen for their durability, and Shetland seal for fineness. 

 The long flat boa is fastened at the throat by the head of 

 the animal and an elastic cord; passementerie tassels trim 

 the ends of the boa and muff. 



Mink sets are very little used in the cities, but are liked 

 for long drives in the country, and by ladies who- wear 

 what they know is good and substantial, without regard to 

 novelties. The best dark sets look like Hudson Bay sable, 

 and it is said these are coming back into fashion. The set 

 of muff and boa costs from $16 to $90. 



Seal skin sacques remain the most popular fur wraps, 

 notwithstanding the introduction of seal Dolmans and long 

 cloaks. Many ladies who have worn plain sacques for two 

 or three winters are now having a border of different fur 

 put on, not merely for its beauty, but to add greater length. 

 The strong Alaska seal sacques without trimming cost from 

 $50 to $200; $125 buys a very good durable Alaska sacque. 

 Shetland seal sacques, untrimmed, are from $75 to $300. 

 Trimmed seal sacques are usually longer than plain ones. 

 The fur borders are wider than last year, measuring six 

 inches if the purchaser can afford it. The most inexpen- 

 sive trimmed sacques are those that have black marten 

 borders, and cost from $100 to $150. Seal Dolmans have 

 been introduced, and will be worn to some extent, but they 

 are too heavy and clumsy for comfort, and will not be 

 generally used. 



Fur trimmings will be used more than ever this winter. 

 Feathe^' bands with fur trimming on each edge are novel- 

 ties at the furriers'. Those whir natural gray ostrich feath- 

 ers in the middle and chinchilla on each edge are among 

 the handsomest, and cost $6 for pieces twenty-six inches 

 long. Chinchilla bands with blue peacock centres are $12 

 for pieces measuring thirty nine inches. Golden peacock 

 centres with black beaver fur edges are $12 a yard. Black 

 cocks' plumes with chinchilla borders are $12 a metre. — 

 Harper' 3 Bazar. 



$§<ichting md Ranting. 



i — » 



All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed no 

 later than Monday in each week. 



HIGH WATER. FOR THE WEEK. 



Date. 



Boston. 



New York. 



Charleston 



Nov. 2 



Nov 3 



H. M. 

 11 31 



rnorn 



17 



1 10 



2 7 



3 3 



4 3 



B. M. 



8 11 



9 3 

 9 56 



10 49 



11 43 

 eve 50 



1 53 



B. * 



7 31 



8 17 



Nov. 4 



Nov. 5 



9 10 



10 7 



(Nov. 6 



11 3 

 morn 



Nov. 7 



Nov. 8 



3 







THE NEW REGATTA COURSE. 



■ * 



We append herewith, a number of letter3 from some of 

 the most prominent oarsmen of the country, relative to the 

 capabilities of* Greenwood Lake as a regatta course. It 

 will be observed that one and all speak of it in the highest 

 terms, and we can safely predict that this beautiful sheet 

 of water is destined to be the scene of some of the most 

 important future acquatic contests. The only objection 

 made is the want of increased hotel facilities, and this we 

 are authorized to say will be provided before next season. 

 Two new hotels are to be built, and the present ones 

 enlarged if necessary. Not the least interesting feature of 

 the newly awakened interest in Greenwood Lake, was the 

 recent excursion of some, forty clergymen, who visited the 

 lake and selected the site for the erection of a church, 

 which w r ould be the Sabbath gathering place for church 

 people from New York and the country around. Rev. Dr. 

 Deems, of this city, was|chosen Chairman, and a resolu- 

 tion was passed appointing a committee of seven, for the 

 purpose of organizing a company for the building of a 

 church, to be called the Church of the Strangers of Green- 

 wood Lake. A most beautiful and original design has 

 been adopted, and the site selected is on the hillside, about 

 half way down the lake, where it would be in clear view 

 from any point on the lake. 



New York, Oct. 20th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



As I have not been at the boat house since last Saturday, did not re- 

 ceive yours of 19th until torday. You ask what I think of Greenwood 

 Lake as a regatta course. I do not think you could ftad a better one 

 The crew and myself think it tho "boss place," we having won our first, 

 race there. David Roach, 



Stroke of Dauntless Crew. 

 New York, Oct. 19th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream.:— 



In response to your letter of 17th inst., asking my opinion of Green- 

 wood Lake a? a regatta course, Iheg to say that I was very agreeably 

 impressed with that sheet of water, notwithstanding the unfavorable 

 (but 1 believe exceptional) circumstances under which I saw it. During 

 the boating season, protected as the lake is from all but due northerly or 

 southerly winds. I should judge it to be one of the finest courses in 

 America, while its proximity to New York city, combined with the ad- 

 mirable views of the races to be obtained from the west shore, and from 

 the finish on the east bank, should render it very popular to lovers of 

 aquatic sports, and insnre what every oarsman coyer js, yjz; a big crowd 

 toi€-afc«t!in», - ■ '-'■''''.'' - 



Of the course itself, I have no doubts, and if the energetic gentlemen 

 who had charge of the late regatta will provide ample boat house accom- 

 modation, guarantee rapid transit, and increased hotel accomodation. I 

 can see no reason why Greenwood Lake should not at once jump into 

 the rank of a first class regatta course. E. R. Craft. 



Newark, N. J., Oct. 19th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In regard to Greenwood Lake as a national regatta course I express my 

 candid opinion that it cannot be surpassed. In ^the late regatta there 

 were many expressions of dissatisfaction with the accomodation afford- 

 ed visitors for viewing the races. On future occasions all difficulties of 

 that kind will be obviated by a new and [novel arrangement, namely: a 

 moving grand stand. This is a project of the Railroad Company, who 

 propose to erect seats on platform cars, and therein accompany the 

 "contestants 1 ' along the entire course. There is one fact that should be 

 impressed on the managers of future regattas, that the season for this 

 sport does not extend into the season of frosts, two of our crew contracted 

 such heavy colds that they are not rid of them yet. 



Besides the excellence of the course it is more convenient for the 

 greater part of our rowing clubs, and taking everything in consideration 

 I heartily approve of it as the future reg'itta course. Hoping that your 

 New York cluba will be of the same mind, I remain P. Young, 



Secretary Eureka BdatClub. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



You write to ask me my opinion of Greenwood Lake for a race course. 

 I don't think there is any better race course in the country if they take 

 the right time of year. The only fault there could be is when the wind 

 blows as it does everywhere in the fall, The water is deep enough up to 

 the shore, and the lake broad enough to give room for as many boats as 

 ever enter any race, and plenty of room for all to have fair play. If 

 everybody feels as the Neptunes did about their accommodations, and 

 the easy way of getting boats, etc., back and forward to tfce lake I 

 should think a big regatta might be just the thing for New York people. 

 It won't do for me to say much about the races, for as I have rowed in 

 all but two I might not be a good judge, but I know we all had a good 

 time, and had to thank Mr Vernam aud the gentlemen for a great deal. 

 Hoping to row on the same course often again, and with as fine prizes as 

 we leceived for our victories I say success to Greenwood Lake and the 

 Sportsman's Club. Jas. II. Riley. 



New York, October 19th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In response to your inquiry I freely give my endorsement of Green- 

 wood Lake as containing all the requirements of an A No. 1 piece of 

 water for racing. I do not see how, at a suitable season of the year, a 

 better place could be found for holding regattas. The water at such 

 seasons, and when men, too, can best leave thi ir business, is sure to be 

 perfectly smooth, the only wind which can ruffle it does not prevail 

 until later. There seems to be no advantage of one station over the 

 other by reason of current, as at Saratoga or Philadelphia, while a per- 

 fect straightaway course can be had for any distance for from one to five 

 miles, for as many boats as there are boat clubs in this country. But 

 more important still than all this to men in training is the pure bracing 

 air, which serves to exhilarate and bolster you up continually. A 

 crooked, short and narrow course can be endured, but foul water and an 

 ennervating atmosphere are evils that cannot be grappled with without 

 suffering the consequences as was to lamentably proved at Philadelphia 

 tbe past Beason. So much for the natural advantages. Tie accommo- 

 dations for crews, and the number of spectators who annually visit, the 

 college aud amateur legattas a«j entirely inadequate, and were they to 

 attempt to hold either regatta there, with the present limited hotel ar- 

 rangement, the result would' be most unfortunate to both parties. 



Lindset Watson 

 Washington, D. C, Oct. 26th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In a note reeeived from you yesterday you ask me "to give you mv 

 opinion of Greenwood Lake for a regatta course." So much has been 

 written on the subject lately that one has necessarily to repeat opinions 

 already given . When I first visited Greenwood Lake this fall with tbe 

 gentlemen who formed the party invited by the Sportsman's Club, I was 

 both surprised and delighted with the beauty of the surroundings and 

 the extent of the lake, and at a proper season I have no hesitation in 

 saying the course is excellent, the only drawback possible being the 

 roughness of the water during the high fall winds. Wishing every 

 success to the gentlemen who rendered the Greenwood Like regatta eo 

 pleasant, I remain yours respectfully, T. R. Keator, 



Neptune Rowing Club. 



Nautilus Boat Club, ( 



New York, October, 25th, 187C. f 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In reply to your communication desiring to know what I thought of 

 Greenwood Lake as a regatta course I wish to say that so far as I have 

 seen it is one of the best in the country, and a course which, under 

 proper control, management and direction, may be made the most popu. 

 tar of all. It has many features to recommend it. It is connected to 

 New York, the Greenwood Lake and Montclair Railway bringing con- 

 testants and spectators from Jersey City to the margin of the racecourse; 

 the water is well sheltered by the wooded hills surrounding it, and the 

 natural eminences of such a character as enables lookers-on to see a re- 

 gatta from start to finish. I think boating men will regard it as I do— 

 an excellent course. Richard L. Neville. 



Harvard Fall Races.— The regular fall races took 

 place on Saturday, October 28th, over the Charles River 

 course, a distance of two miles. Raw weather and a small 

 number of entries diminished considerably the number 

 and interest of the spectators, but the proportionally large 

 number of ladies present somewhat compensated for other- 

 defects, and the races passed off pleasantly and success- 

 fully. The crews rowed in barges and carried coxswains, 

 and hence were very little incommoded by the choppy con- 

 dition of the water. 



The first race was for four-oars, and was rowed by only 

 two crews, the Weld and Hoi worthy crews being obliged 

 to. withdraw. The word was given to the Holyoke crew, 

 composed of Le Moyne, '78, stroke; Denton S. S. Crocker, 

 '79, and Le Moyne, '77, bow; and the Mathew's crew, made 

 up of Jacobs, '79 stroke; Brigham, '79; Preston, '79; Harri- 

 man, '77 bow, and Jennison, '77 cox. The crews took an 

 even start, but after a hundred yards were rowed the 

 Holyoke boat took the lead. This was lost at the stake 

 boat, by Wiley, their coxswain, and the race home was one 

 of the closest ever rowed on this course. The boats came 

 in lapping; with Holyoke a fraction of a second ahead. 

 Time, 14m. 39s. For the six-oared race there were three 

 entries. Holyoke— Le Moyne, '78, stroke; Crocker, '79; 

 Parker, '79; Le Moyne, '77; Brewster, '80; Donaldson, '79, 

 bow; Wiley, '77, coxswain. Mathews— Jacobs, '79, stroke: 

 Brigham, '79; Preston, '79; Harriman, '77; Keyes, '79; 

 Kessler, '79; Jennison, '77, coxswain. W<?W— Sloane, '77 

 stroke; Brownlow, L. S.; Burr, '79; Trimble, '79; Ward, 

 '80; Tuckerman, '78, bow; Coolidge, '79, coxswain. The 

 boats got off with an even start, Weld soon drawing ahead, 

 With the other crews about even. These relative positions 

 were kept to the stakeboats, when Weld fell off a little. 

 Holyoke made a good turn and gained a clear length. 

 On the home stretch Mathew's braced up, but were unable 

 to overtake Hotyoke, who crossed the line winners in 14m. 

 36s, Mathews being eleven, and Weld twenty seconds be- 

 hind. The judges at the stakeboats were Messrs. Per- 

 kins and Duff, Starters, 3&e#srs P Danfortb, ancj Br&djy. 



