330 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Partridge shooting is about over for this season. There 

 were two or three pleasant days a week or so ago, and 

 some of our sportsmen took advantage thereof to have an- 

 other shot at the birds. Some of them had fair luck, and 

 returned home with a respectable showing. The birds are 

 fully grown now, well feathered, and able to get out of the 

 way with lightning rapidity, besides they have been shot 

 at so much that they have become very wild and remain 

 in cover most of the day. The season in Virginia closes, 

 I believe, on the 1st of January, and in Maryland on the 

 15th. We have no shooting then until the jack snipe put 

 in their appearance early in the spring on their way north. 



In a recent letter I gave the history of the introduction 

 of California salmon in the Potomac by Prof. Baird, the 

 U. S. Fish Commisssoner, and am glad to say that the good 

 work is being pushed forward by the Maryland authori- 

 ties, who are increasing the supply in the headwaters of 

 this river. Major Thomas B. Ferguson, the Maryland Fish 

 Commissioner, has distributed this fall nearly one million 

 young salmon, which were hatched in the propagating 

 waters at Druid Hill Park near Baltimore. Of this num- 

 ber 71,000 were placed in the Potomac near the Point of 

 Rocks, 83,200 in the north branch of that river, and small- 

 er lots in various tributaries of the stream. They were 

 also distributed extensively in the Gunpowder, Patapsco, 

 Monocacy, Susquehanna, Patuxtent, North Patapsco, and 

 other Maryland waters, as well as adjacent streams. He 

 has also shipped and deposited in Virginia waters on ac- 

 count of the U.S. Fish Commissioner about 163,000 young 

 salmon, and many of these were placed in the Shenandoah, 

 whence they Will come into the Potomac, and the prob- 

 abilities are that this river will soon be crowded with sal- 

 mon. The Maryland authorities are taking a great interest 

 in pisciculture, and are rapidly stocking the waters of that 

 State with food fishes. An order was recently given by the 

 U. S. Fish Commissioner at the request of Major Ferguson 

 for the importation of a lot of carp from ponds bordering 

 on the Danube, and they will be placed in ponds prepared 

 for them in Druid Hill Park to "increase and multiply," 

 and will then be distributed in ponds in Maryland and 

 neighboring States. These carp are said to be peculiarly 

 adapted to the ponds and still waters of the eastern shore 

 of. Maryland. It is highly prized as a food fish, and has 

 pre-eminence over black bass, trout, grayling, etc., on ac- 

 count of being a vegetable feeder, and although not dis- 

 daining animal matter can thrive very well upon aquatic 

 vegetation alone. They have the advantage over the sal- 

 mon and herring families in being able to live in warmer 

 and more stagnant waters. Two importations of carp were 

 made in 1875, but of an inferior kind. Unfortunately, on 

 account of hot weather and overcrowded tanks, all but 22 

 died on the voyage. Subsequently all died but eight, and 

 from this small number several thousand have already 

 been hatched in the ponds at Druid Hill Park, and will be 

 distributed in the ponds of the State during next year. 

 They rapidly attain a weight of twelve or fifteen pounds, 

 and are also ornamental, being of a rich golden color. The 

 carp, on account of their quick growth and great increase, 

 13 regarded as the most valuable of all fish for stocking 

 ponds. Prof. Baird, the U. S. Fish Commissioner, is fa- 

 vorably impressed with the hatching establishment at 

 Druid Hill Park, as being peculiarly adapted for hatching 

 this variety of fish. 



Senator Mitchell, of Oreg on, has introduced in the Sen- 

 ate a bill for the protection and preservation of the salmon 

 fisheries of the Columbia river in that State, which makes 

 it unlawful to fish for salmon by any means whatever from 

 the 1st of August until the 1st of May, the first offense to 

 be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than 

 $1,000, and any subsequent offense by a fine of not less 

 than $1,000 and imprisonment at the discretion of the 

 court for a term not exceeding six months. It also makes 

 it unlawful to fish for salmon in that river during the 

 months of May, June and July, in any manner whatever, 

 except by means of the seine, the meshes of which shall 

 not be less than eight and one-half inches diagonally from 

 one corner to the other when extended. Any violation of 

 this section to be punished as prescribed in the former sec- 

 tion, except that the term of imprisonment may be extend- 

 ed to one year. The bill also appropriates $25,000 to en- 

 able Prof. Baird, the U. S. Fish Commissioner, to have 

 erected an establishment for the artificial hatching of sal- 

 mon at such points on the river as he may select, and 

 $10,000 to carry on such establishment. It was referred 

 to the Committee on Commerce. As the bill now stands it 

 prohibits angling for these salmon, but should it receive the 

 attention of the Senate several amendments will be added 

 to it, among them one to permit their capture with hook 

 and line, to which the mover will make no objection. It 

 is not his intention to prevent them being taken in this 

 way, but it is his desire to prevent all trapping, spearing, 

 and such means for their capture. The use of lines set in 

 the stream with numerous hooks attached to them will 

 also be prohibited. 



In your foreign letter of a recent date I notice your cor- 

 respondent quotes an article from the London Field in fa- 

 vor of immediate steps by our Government for the pro- 

 tection of the buffalo. The initiatory step has already 

 been taken, the House of Representatives having passed a 

 bill in February last to prevent the useless slaughter of 

 buffalo within the territories of the United States. This 

 bill was sent to the Senate for the concurrence of that 

 body, where it was referred to the Committee on Territo- 

 ries, and has not yet been reported back. It makes it un- 

 lawful for any person not an Indian, to kill, wound, or in 

 any manner destroy any female buffalo of any age. It 



also forbids the killing, wounding, or destroying of any 

 greater number of male buffaloes than are needed for food 

 by the persons killing them, or than can be used, cured, 

 or preserved for the food of other persons, or for market. 

 It is further made unlawful for any person to assist, or be 

 in any manner engaged or concerned in or about such un- 

 lawful killing, wounding, or destroying of buffaloes, or 

 for any white person to employ or procure, directly or in- 

 directly, any Indian to kill any buffalo forbidden to be 

 killed by the act. The penalty for violating the law is 

 a fine of $100 for each buffalo killed, and for a second of- 

 fense the offender may be committed to prison for a period 



not exceeding thirty days. , Occasional. 

 .*.«. 



Obituary. — We are pained at having to record the 

 death of Wilbur F. Parker, of West Meriden, Conn. Mr. 

 Parker's name is familiar to our readers not only in con- 

 nection with the "Parker" gun so generally used through- 

 out the country, but also as the originator of the American 

 Sportsmen, a contemporary, now known as Bod and Gun. 

 Mr. Parker had at heart the interests of field sports, and 

 devoted himself almost entirely, until illness required a 

 change of scene, to their furtherance. He was active in 

 the organization of the National Sportsmen's Association, 

 and acted as Corresponding Secretary until the last year. 

 Mr. Parker's death occurred in Florida a few day since. 



lifie. 



The Irish Rifle Association. — The Duke of Abercom 

 has been, until recently, Viceroy of Ireland, and also Presi- 

 dent of the Irish Rifle Association. Previous to his de- 

 parture from Ireland the event was made the occasion ot a 

 visit from a deputation from the Association, during which 

 Major Leech, so Well known in this country, made one of 

 his felicitous speeches. After referring to the various con. 

 tests in which the Associations had been engaged during 

 his Grace's presidency, he alluded as follows to the great 

 matches shot in this country: — 



"In 1873, so great was the improvement in our marks- 

 manship, that we were emboldened to throw down the 

 gauntlet to the Americans, long known for their skill as 

 marksmen. The history of that and subsequent expedi- 

 tions across the Atlantic by our riflemen is now well known 

 through the medium of the public press. Two months 

 since our team stood side by side with the Americans, 

 Scotch, Australians and Canadians, in the greatest rifle 

 contest ever held, and beat three of the competing teams, 

 being close up to the Americans at the finish. During this 

 great contest some of our members made scores which are 

 unprecedented for continuous accu^-aey. The Americans 

 retain their laurels, and areas yet uncenquered; but the 

 Council feel that the representatives ot the Association 

 achieved successfully the most important object of their 

 visit, which was to show to the American people (by join- 

 ing with them in celebrating the Centenary of their Inde- 

 pendence) that we rejoice at their progress, and are proud 

 of their success, and to bind still more closely the feeling 

 of mutual regard already existing between the two coun- 

 tries." 



Major Leech, in continuing his remarks, hoped that his 

 Grace would lemain as President of the Association, 

 which the Duke in reply consented to do, as well as to act 

 as Captain of the Irish eight in the next contest for the 

 Elcho Shield. 



Rhode Island. — The fourth competition for the cham- 

 pion marksman's badge (200 yards) took place on the 15th 

 inst. at Newport, and was again won by Mr. W. M. Far- 

 row, the conditions being 10 shots each at 203 yards. He 

 has now won it three times #nd the badge becomes his 

 property. The day was very unfavorable for off hand 

 shooting, being cold with a very heavy northwest wind 

 blowing. The scores were as follows : — 



Name. Total. 



W. M. Farrow 42 



W. R. Landers 41 



H. Bull, Jr 3'j 



Naroe . Total. 



Ira Brightman 38 



E. H. Potten 37 



ur. S. Slocnm 36 



— The Hartford Post says that the subject of adopting 



the range of the Connecticut Rifle Association, known as 



the Willowbrook Range at Berlin Junction, as a State rifle 



range for the use of the National Guard at target practice, 



will, it is said, be brought before the military committee 



at the coming session of the Legislature. 

 . ~*»-». . 



%mm j§a$ and %mx. 



GAME IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 



♦ 

 Hares, brown and gray. Wild dock, geese, brant, &c. 



FOR FLORIDA. 



Deer, Wild Turkey, Woodcock, Quail, Snipe, and Wild Fowl. 



A Work op Art!— Believing that our readers take the 

 same interest as ourselves in anything in the gun line we 

 wish to describe to them a gun we have had the pleasure of 

 inspecting at the store of Mr. H. C. Squires, in this city. 

 The gun was made by Mr. W, W. Greener, which is of 

 itself a guarantee as to its quality, but the chief beauty of 

 it is in the complete adaptability of all its parts for every 

 description of shooting. There are two sets of barrels of 

 the finest Damascus, one 12-gauge, 28 inches, with the 

 right barrel cylinder bored and the left slightly choked, 

 and the other 10-gauge, 30 inches, both barrels full choked. 

 With the first pair the gun weighs 8-f pounds; with the 

 other 9f . The workmanship is, as fine as anything we have 

 seen; the stock a beautiful piece of walnut, and, of course, 

 the gun has every improvement in the way of patent fore 

 end, action, etc. It is worth a moderately long journey, 

 to see it. 



— The Oswego Times of Dec. 18th says: "Don't shoot 

 partridges now, it is illegal. " As the close season does not 

 commence until Jan. 1st, the Times is just thirteen days 

 too soon with its notice. After New Years, however, we 

 hope the line will be kept standirg for eight months. 



—Any parties who will see fit to aceept Mr. Kendall's 

 invitation to Palmetto Island, Port Royal, S. C, to shoot 

 ducks should bring a portable light boat, provided with 

 Lyman's bow facing rowing gear, with short oars for nar- 

 row channels. Double plates should be put on the boat, 

 at the centre when one alone rows and shoots and halfway 

 from centre aft for oarsman alone with the gunner at 

 bow of boat. Besides this gear common iron or brass 

 sockets and rowlocks should be on the gunwale towavds 

 the bow for use in case of breakage of the Lyman gear. 

 Also a short pair of sculls for such an emergency. 



— The Germantown Telegraph says that: "Milford, and 

 the region thereabouts in Delaware, has this year become 

 quite a center for the shipment of game to this city and 

 even to New York. Thus far some 8,000 partridges, 2,000 

 rabbits and 2,500 ducks have been sent north." Now if it 

 would only tell us how many of the partridges were illegally 

 snared and how many lawfully shot, the item would be one 

 of suspassing interest. 



—Rabbit shooting must be fine sport in Connecticut. 

 The Norwich Courier says: — 



"Seven gentlemen went up the road Wednesday rab- 

 bit shooting. They stopped at Stafford and after hunt- 

 ing all day they started two rabbits which were driven into 

 their burrows. The sportsmen tried to dislodge them, but 

 being unsuccessful they were obliged to dig them out 

 which was accomplished after an hour's labor. The game 

 was hard to kill so the sportsmen cut their throats with a 

 pocket knife. The spoil was worth forty cents." 



Capt. Bogardus in California. — Through means of 

 a telegram to the Herald we are placed in possession of in- 

 formation regarding the movements of the champion on 

 the Pacific Slope. Under date of December 23d it says:— 



"In the pigeon match for $500 to day, at Oakland Park, 

 between Captain Bogardus and Crittenton Robinson, the 

 champion of California, the former won after a close 

 contest. Conditions sixty single birds each and forty dou- 

 ble. California rules. There was a good attendance, and 

 excellent order prevailed. Bogardus led off with thirty- 

 five birds to Robinson's twenty-seven, but Robinson later 

 on outshot his Eastern rival, scoring fifty four birds of the 

 sixty, against fifty one for Bogardus. Hitherto betting- 

 was light, but, as Robinson is generally excellent at double 

 birds, investments were made on terms. The birds were 

 all strong on the wing, and on the first ten pair Robinson 

 held his own, but in the next five Bogardus made up the 

 difference, and they were even 74 each on the last five. 

 Bogardus killed every bird; Robinson missed three; but 

 tLe match could have been a tie until the last two barrels. 

 The score was 84 to 81. Both contestants declared them- 

 selves satisfied with the decision. The winner was in- 

 stantly challenged to repeat the match for $1,000 a side. 



New York — Hornellsville, Dec. 1&7l — Not much shooting 

 now of any kind, a number of deer have been killed near 

 here, also three snowy owls. John Tenney last week killed 

 a white rabbit or hare that v/eighed nearly 15 pounds. 



"John." 



New Jersey — Wenonali, Dec. 2oth. — A late issue of 

 your paper says that quite a number of deer and bear have 

 be^n killed in South Jersey this season. This is partly 

 true and partly a mistake. I have been all over the south- 

 ern part of the State within a few weeks, and believe I 

 state facts when I say that a large number of deer but no 

 bear have been killed . The latter are not plenty, though 

 a few have been seen during the past summer and autumn. 

 Under the rigorous protection of the West Jersey Game 

 Protective Society the deer and ether game are steadily in- 

 creasing. Immense numbers of quails have been killed 

 during the season just closing. During the past week or 

 ten days we have had a succession of severe snow and sleet 

 storms, which is likely to prove very destructive to quails. 



Milton P. Peikce. 



Wisconsin— Westfield, Dec. 21st.~ Deer have been unusu- 

 ally plenty in the Northwestern portion of this county, 

 and in Adams County. Quite a number of fine deer have 

 been killed recently on Buck-Horn and Pleasant Prairies, 

 in the latter county. Two youths of that section killed a 

 huge black bear a short time since under the following 

 circumstances : — The boys were hunting rabbits with a 

 Colt's revolver and a rifle, when the lad with the revolver, 

 upon turning a point of rock, came suddenly upon a bear, 

 whose head and shoulders protruded from his den. Bruin 

 growled savagely, but the youth, with amazing coolness, 

 fired point blank into the face of the brute and the ball 

 penetrating the brain, killed the bear instantly. Had the 

 ball erred in its mission the daring youth would have 

 answered in all probability for his temerity with his life. 



Ruffed grouse, quail and rabbits have been, and are now, 

 comparatively abundant, though but little pursued for 

 sport. "Bob White" will never, in all probability, be again 

 seen in their former abundance in the Badger States. 

 Deep snows, trapping and snaring have done the work of 

 annihiliation, and the beautiful Ortyx is but a shadow of 

 his former abundance in Wisconsin. Pred. 



Kentucky — Newport, Dee. 23d — Ducks are very plenty, 

 also turkeys, within a radius of 10 miles.. The cold 

 weather has brought Mallard to us so that we can make a 

 respectable bag. 



Spoon trolling for Southern Black Bass very good, 40 lb. 

 catch in 3 hours not unusual. H. C. S. 



North Carolina— Newberne, Dec. 20th. — Wild fowl fill 

 our streams and ponds. I never saw them so thick here 

 before, while from Portsmouth (on the coast) I have the 

 same accounts; geese, brant, and ducks, bv the million. 



J. E. W. 



PIGEON MATCHES. 



Iowa. — A very interesting and closely contested pigeon 

 match occurred at Orange City, la., on the 13th inst. Two 

 captains were chosen, the losing side to pay for the birds; 

 10 birds allowed each man; 21 yards rise, 80 yards bound 



