FOREST AND STREAM. 



217 



flocks in this country seldom exceed hundreds, whereas 

 those of the eastern regions of the United States are found, 

 as is well known, in thousands, darkening the atmosphere 

 as they pass the field of vision. 



— — — «»»»■ » — — - 



GAME PROTECTION. 



West Jersey Game Protective Society.— We have 

 frequently had occasion to refer to the excellent police 

 duty performed hy the West Jersey Game Protective So- 

 ciety in securing the inforcement of the game laws and the 

 punishment of offenders. We have an abundance of 

 associations in our own State, through whom equally good 

 work could be performed. What is wanting is more 

 energy on the part of the individuals composing them. We 

 trust that these repeated instances of watchfullness which 

 we publish will arouse a spirit of emulation that will show 

 itself in some tangible shape. At the east end of Long Islan d, 

 and also within a few miles of the South Side Club House 

 snared partridges are being sold openly and in quanti- 

 ties. If there is one place in the vicinity of New York 

 which should be protected it is the one we have just 

 named. 



On Saturday, Oct. 28th, the West Jersey Game Protec- 

 tive Society arrested a man at Egg Harbor City for viola- 

 ting the game law. He was taken before a Justice of the 

 Peace and fined $15. One bird only being found in his 

 possession. On Monday of last week another paity was 

 arrested by the society for violating the game law at 

 Franklinville, and he gave bail for trial, which comes off 

 this week. On Sunday six boys were arrested at Winslow 

 by the Society, but were discharged as no game birds were 

 found in their possession, and a promise was given not to 

 violate the law in future. The Society has a regular police 

 force and all the six lower counties of New Jersey are now 

 well looked after. According to the charter of the Society 

 all non-residents are required to purchase certificates of 

 membership or make themselves liable to arrest and a fine 

 of $50, and the Society are determined to see the law in- 

 forced. 



The Society has distributed 2,100 black bass during the 

 past week, and will be ready in a few weeks to distribute 

 a quantity of salmon, having- 50,000 eggs nearly hatched 

 out. With regard to compelling non-residents to pay for a 

 license, as it were, before they are permitted to shoot, it 

 is a question, 'the constitutionality of which has been argued 

 at length in our columns. It has this feature, however, that 

 the fund so collected is applied to stocking the counties 

 under the Society's jurisdiction with game birds and fish, 

 and the fee is so small that it should be grudged by no one 

 in view of the object. 



Vermont.— The Vermont Association for the Protection 

 of Game and Fish, met at the State House, Montpelier, on 

 the 1st. inst. The following officers were elected: Presi- 

 dent, M. Goldsmith; Vice Presidents, G. F. Edmunds, J. 

 W.Newton, G. F. Gale, Dr. Wm. H. Lord; Recording 

 Secretary, Henry A. Harmon; Corresponding Secretary, 

 M. C. Edmunds; Treasurer, B. B. Smalley; Direc- 

 tor?, W. Y. W. Ripley, M. S. Colburn, Le Grande B. 

 Cannon, F. S. Stranahan, Royal D. Hedden, Henry 

 Fairbanks, M. D. Gil man; Counsel, E. J. Phelps. 

 And they were elected. It was suggested by Senator Ed- 

 munds, that as black bass are now rapidly multiplying 

 along the shore of Lake Champlain, owing to the fact that 

 the law had compelled people to leave them alone during the 

 spawning season, that the close season should extend from 

 the middle of May to middle of July, instead of the first of 

 August. It was also recommended that exhausted streams 

 should be restocked with trout, and Dr. Goldsmith men- 

 tioned several instances where by slight effort and at private 

 expence, brooks recently quite depopulated were now 

 yielding a large supply. An earnest appeal was made to 

 all the members to be constantly observant of the work- 

 ings of the fish and game laws of the State and of 

 everything pertaining to the interests of the society, and 

 make, from time to time, whatever suggestions they may 

 deem important to the officers. 



Pennsylvania..— We can sympathize with the Union- 

 town Standard in its remark that "if the act of Assem- 

 bly in relation to the legal time when game can be killed, 

 and the time when a penalty is prescribed for killing the 

 same, were to be published every other day, there are plenty 

 of people who would still affect to remain in ignorance of 

 the law." We therefore, in response to numerous inquires 

 re-print the open seasons for the State of Pennsylvania, 

 and in such form that it can by cut out, and as the Stand- 

 ard suggests, pasted in the hat for ready reference:— 



Ruffed grouse, October 1st to January 1st. 



Quail, October 15th to December 15th. 



Woodcock, July 4th to January 1st. 



Wild turkeys, October 1st to January 1st. 



Wood duck, Ootober 1st to January 1st. 



Other ducks, any time. 



Eabbits, October 15th to December 15th. 



Squirrels, July 1st to January 1st. 



Snipe, any time. 



Plover, August 15th to January 1st. 



Deer, October 1st to January 1st. 



Trout, April 1st to August J5th. 



Black bass, July 1st to March 1st. 



Very apropos to the above came the following letter:— 



—In Nova Scotia they are devising an improved law to 

 regulate the killing of moose, and we find in the Halifax 

 Citizen a letter from a correspondent who outlines the draft 

 of a law which strikes us as sensible and proper, not only 

 as applied to moose alone, but in its general principles to 

 the common deer. The main points in controversy among 

 sportsmen are well covered, as will be seen. We omit 



printing the draft of the law proposed, as the reference to 

 its several sections in the remarks appended, makes it suf- 

 ficiently intelligible. The writer says:— 



"It will be seen that section 1 limits the close season 

 from 15th February to 10th September, under a penalty of 

 $50. 



"I think the close season should commence in February, 

 first, because the cow moose is not fit to be eaten later, 

 and, secondly, because after the middle of February the 

 crust hardens on the snow and the moose has little or no 

 chance of escape from dogs. 



"I propose a heavy penalty for violation of this section 

 because the open season is pretty long, and in it every per 

 son has a chance to gratify their sporting propensity or to 

 supply their larder, to a certain extent. 



"In section 2 I fix the number two as the number to be 

 killed in any one season by any person, or party of hunts- 

 men. 



"It is childish for full-grown men to go 'tearing' through 

 the woods and having a 'crack' at every living thing they see, 

 as is too often the case. Such sportsmen should be frowned 

 down, and I think $30 not too heavy a penalty for one to 

 pay whose greed has to be controlled by statute. 



"Section 3 should pass without discussion, as no person 

 'calls' before September 10th, and bucks (and they are the 

 only ones hunted in this way) are not fit to kill after the 

 30th, so I move that section 3 do pass. 



"With section 4 comes the 'tug of war,' and yet I think 

 it just as necessary as any other. Moose have been 'dog- 

 ged' ever since the country has been inhabited by white 

 men, and will be, I believe, so long as there are moose in 

 the country — law or no law to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 The poorer classes have an idea that the game laws are 

 only intended to protect the moose for the benefit of sport- 

 ing men. My object is to make them feel that they are in- 

 terested in protecting as well as in killing the moose. 



"Now, suppose we make it illegal to hunt moose with 

 dogs, what will be the result? In a free country like ours 

 we cannot prevent people from keeping dogs. Well, A B 

 and C reside in a neighborhood, and each owns a dog or 

 dogs. A would be satisfied with one moose, B wouldlike 

 two, but C must hunt continually. A kills a moose with 

 dogs, B, ditto, and O is aware of it, and knowing that A 

 and B dare not prosecute or tell on him kills as many as he 

 pleases. But let it be legal for A B and C to kill one or 

 two each and the case is altogether different, for then A 

 and B will kill what their necessities require, so may C, but 

 when he goes, or attempts to go beyond that, then A and 

 B are in a positkm to stop him, and would at once do so. 

 Another objection that may be urged against hunting with 

 dogs may be the cruelty. The ones most likely to urge 

 this plea will be those who 'go in' for calling only, princi- 

 pally men of wealth. Were such a plea to be urged in the 

 'Old Country' how would it be received? Why the person 

 making such a proposal would be laughed to scorn. Dog- 

 ging I think is the most sportsmanlike way of hunting. 

 The moose has a fair chance for his life and can run away 

 if he chooses, as he very often does, as it is but seldom 

 that a young moose is killed by dogs, as they prefer to run, 

 but the old ones make fight, and not unfrequently come off 

 second best. 



„^**^ — „ ,, . „£ . , 



Coca an a Nervine.— The peculiar properties of the 

 coca plant, which has been used for centuries in South 

 America as a stimulant to the nervous system, and to pre- 

 vent prostration from fatigue, are just now engaging the at 

 tention of medical men everywhere. It is said that an 

 Indian, with a supply of his favorite coca leaf, will travel 

 two or three days without food and without showing any 

 desire for sleep. Among recent contributions to the his- 

 tory and effects of this plant, we may allude to a paper 

 read before the April meeting of the Edinburgh Botani- 

 cal Society, from which it appears that without doubt the 

 leaves of the coca, when rightly prepared and used dis 

 creetly, possess the effects ascribed to them by all travelers 

 in Peru since Poppig was there in 1827, but that their 

 effects are not always precisely the same on different in- 

 dividuals. From experiments conducted by Sir R. Chris- 

 tison, the author of the paper above cited, and those of 

 fourteen other gentlemen who undertook to try the plant 

 at his request, the following conclusions have been arrived 

 at: (1) That, taken in quantities of two drachms by healthy 

 persons, it has no injurious, unpleasant, or suspicious 

 effect whatever; (2) that in a very few cases this dose, of 

 an inferior sample, had no effect at all ; (3) that in by much 

 the greater number of instances, and with a fine sample in 

 every case, extreme fatigue was removed and prevented 

 from returning, and that no doubt can exist that, in such 

 persons, its restorative and preventive powers will render 

 protracted exercise easy, without any subsequent harm, so 

 far as the restorative is concerned ; (4) that it does not in 

 the end impair the appetite or digestion, although hunger, 

 even after long^fasting, is taken away for an hour or two; 

 (5) that the use of it probably does not agree with more 

 than a very moderate use of alcoholic stimulants. Similar 

 conclusions have also been arrived at by Prof. Bouchardat, 

 of Paris, who considers that its services in therapeutics 

 have been most valuable, almost equal to those of cincho- 

 na, and that as a nervous and muscular stimulant it ranks 

 with tea and coffee. m On the other hand, evidence is not 

 wanting to show that its effects (like those of tobacco, 

 opium, hemp, resin, gunjah or bhang, alcohol, and other 

 vegetable stimulants) are certainly highly injurious when 

 used habitually or in excess. A confirmed conquero, as an 

 habitual chewer is termed, is said to be invariably known 

 by his haggard look, gloomy and solitary habit, listless in- 

 ability, and disinclination for any active employment. Its 

 use is regarded by Europeans as befitting only the Indians; 

 nevertheless, many whites are addicted to it. Dr. Wed- 

 dell, who inquired very carefully into its effects on the 

 constitution, states, as the result of his observation, the 

 opinion that its habitual use acts on Europeans more pre- 

 judicially than on the Indians accustomed to it from early 

 years; and in some cases is attributed to its abuse a pecu- 

 liar aberration of intellect, characterized by hallucinations. 

 Dr. Mantegazza, sa y S the English. Garden, deseribes its ef- | 



fects, stating the result of intemperance in its use to be 

 frequently confirmed idiocy. 



The leaves of this plant are used to make an infusion, as 

 few as four or five leaves making drink enough for six per- 

 sons. The coca is not to be confounded with the cacao, of 

 the genus Hieobroma, which furnishes the nuts from which 

 cocoa, chocolate, and the shells used for infusion are 

 made. 



Insect Powders. — There are many specifics sold under 

 various names, for the destruction of fleas, bugs, and in- 

 sects, which are more or less efficacious. The best of 

 them are powders, pure or adulterated, prepared from va- 

 rieties of the pyrethrum, of which we find especial men- 

 tion in a report of the Agricultural Department of Wash- 

 ington, made some years ago. We quote: — 



"For a long period a preparation was us-ed throughout 

 the Russian Caucasus for the destruction of injurious in- 

 sects, and was regarded as a secret to the rest of the world, 

 until its properties became known to Mr. Jumtikoff, an 

 I Armenian merchant, while traveling through that country 

 some forty or fifty years ago. He communicated his dis- 

 covery to bis son, who manufactured the article in 1828. 

 This powder, or the plant from which it was obtained, was 

 soon after introduced into Alexandropol, and subsequently 

 into Germany, where its popularity is rapidly increasing. 



"There are several plants similar in character, called by 

 botanists Pyrenthrum carnewn, Pyrenthrum and PyroUirum 

 purpureum (Persian cammomile, flea-grass, or flea-killer), 

 from which this powder is produced. 



"The parts of the plants from which the powder is made 

 are the dried flower-heads, gathered when ripe. When 

 perfectly dried they are first comminuted with the hand, 

 and then reduced to powder in a small mill. 



"A quantity of these plants grown upon eighteen square 

 rods is estimated to furuish 100 pounds of powder, which 

 is best preserved in sealed vessels of glass. The applica 

 tion is made either as a powder or as an infusion, though 

 in the latter form it is more beneficial, especially when in- 

 tended for the destruction of insects on plants. The dried 

 leaves only should be used for an infusion, as the green 

 ones are ineffectual. The powder may be applied directly 

 to the insects themselves, or in the places which they fre 

 quent. They are attracted by its smell, become stupefied, 

 and immediately die. Thi 3 substance may be employed with 

 injury to the larger animals or man. It is estimated that 

 the amount of this powder consumed, per annum, in Rus- 

 sia alone, is nearly 1,000,000 pounds. 



_ "At present there are more than twenty villages in the 

 district of Alexandropol engaged in cultivating the plant 

 and collecting its flowers and leaves. 



*«.»«. 



The Florida New Yorker.— This is the name of a 

 journal recently established in this city for the purpose of 

 truthfully presenting the claims of Florida as a home for 

 northern settlers. We welcome it as a valuable co-laborer 

 in afield where Forest and Stream has done a good deal 

 of effective pioneering. It is conducted by Mr. J. B. Oli- 

 ver, an experienced journalist, and a gentleman personal- 

 ly acquainted with all portions of Florida, and who has 

 devoted much attention to the question of immigration 

 Each number of the paper contains letters from various 

 portions of the State, written by well-known citizens, and 

 containing just such practical hints as intending settlers 

 will find useful. The office of the Florida New Yorker is 

 34 Park Row. Price $2 a year. 



. — -»♦«,. 



The Colorado Survey— A Misstatement. — In our refer- 

 ence, last week, to the returns of Dr. Coues's party from 

 the Colorado Expedition, we were quite in error in the 

 statement that Dr. Coues was "operating for the Smithson- 

 ian Institution." The facts in the case are that the expe- 

 dition to which Dr. Coues was attached was the United 

 States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Terri- 

 tories, in charge of Dr. F. V. Hayden, U. S. Geologist, 

 whose name should not be omitted in anything relating to 

 this important and valuable service. 



■^■^ 



—The Greenwood Lake Sportsman's Club have pur- 

 chased the New Jersey State Building now in the Centen- 

 nial Exhibition grounds at Philadelphia, to use as a club 

 house, for which purpose it i3 well adapted. 

 ■ ■««»■ ... ,,. , 



Paints.— To the country gentleman, or those who have 

 an occasional piece of painting to do, a pot of ready mixed 

 paint which does away with all mixing and mussing with 

 oil, turpentine and driers, is a boon to be appreciated. The 

 Patrons Paint Company, whose advertisement appears in 

 another column, are putting up paint in this manner with 

 brushes ready for immediate use. 

 , i «» » +., 



— A bighorn (Ovis mon tana) said to have been .the first 

 taken in that vicinity for eighteen years, was recently 

 killed in the mountains near Santa Barbara, Cal., by Mr. 

 Israel Miller, of that town. 



■»«<»» 



—"It was a popular notion of the ancients" said a show- 

 man, "that this 'ere animal, as we call a leopard, can't 

 change his spots; but it's now known that he sleeps in one 

 spot one night and in another spot another night, rnd is 

 continually a-changin' his spots." 



«**<- — r 



—We find the "Imperial" blotting paper made by Messrs, 

 Bulkley, Dunton & Co., paper manufacturers, of 74 John 

 street, the best absorbent we have ever used for drying ink 



from manuscripts. 



^♦^-^ 



— Prof. G. Brown Goode sails to-day for Bermuda to 

 spend the winter in recruiting his health and studying the 

 marine zoology of that region. Forest and Stream is 

 promised an occasional note, for which its readers will feel 

 indebted. 



—Maine has [such an abundance of apples, chestnuts 

 squirrels, and quails, as has not been known of late years* 



