FOREST AND STEEAM. 



391 



volved and was so absurdly positive in his views, backed 

 hv bis experience, that I apparently gave in, but I was not 

 in earnest. Through your columns, shielded by the safe 

 cloak of a nom de plume, I shall say my say, and he cannot 

 interrupt me. My friend has made a voyage, and has 

 bailed his yacht, I think once to Martha's Vineyard, but 

 like myself he can be taught a lesson in boat sailing. I 

 thoaght I knew about all there was to be learned in it. I 

 have sailed cutters with lug sails, gigs with sprits, whale- 

 boats in a sea and breeze, when close reef and a long 

 steering o&v were necessary — sampans, felluccas, catama- 

 rans foonags, sloops, schooners, brigs, barks and ships, 



cumstance" by simpL 

 of my boatman, Albert Stevens by name, one of a race of 

 boatmen to whom all of the secrets of bass fishing on 

 Ontario are unfolded. 



Throughout the day, while simply rowing and trolling, 

 Albert wasn't particular where I or he or our luggage was 

 placed in his trim little boat; but when toward evening 

 we would prepare for a homeward start, with fifty or sixty 

 pounds of bass, filling a box in the morning empty; an 

 uncertain number of pounds of pork, potatoes, bottled tea, 

 coffee and lager had been removed from a basket in the bow 

 to one further aft he became, I thought, "fussy," arranging 

 the various parcels, himself, myself, minnow pail, jugs and 

 anchor with a care that indicated that he thought that 

 something depended upon it, and something did. With a 

 little spritsail— big for the boat— substituted for his stal- 

 wart arms, our progress homeward in a fresh breeze became 

 another matter from the slow, monotonous trolling stroke. 

 With his work apparently over for the day, Albert would 

 make fast his sheet, so fitted that it was all right for either 

 tack, like a cat boat's, and seating himself on the midship 

 thwart, back forward, apparently pay no further attention 

 to the doings of his little boat, but occupy himself putting 

 away the miscellaneous collection of divers spoons, flies, 

 hooks, gaffs, line^, polishing rags, files, etc., etc., which in 

 a day's fishing for varieties of fish become scattered about 

 a boat. Presently we would approach the shore; without 

 looking ahead Albert would lean back as though tired, or 

 perhaps shift the minnow pail a few feet forward; obeying 

 the signal like an intelligent creature the little boat would 

 luff, pass the wind; then replacing the pail (which he had 

 pretended to have simply moved for convenience of chang- 

 ing the water) abaft the thwart, and resuming his former 

 position, she would fall off, gather headway, come up, 

 and start away on her new coirse. This manoeuvre was 

 managed so skillfully that at first I was puzzled enough at 

 seeing a boat thus tack itself, that simple leaning over to 

 the lee bow to change the water on the minnows was so 

 natural a performance as to attract no attention. Nor did 

 I at first see this connection between his movements and 

 their effect. As we d eared the wharf— on the wind— he 

 had every landmark "down fine," and did not need to look 

 ahead to know where we were or where we were going. 

 Stepping into the stern sheets to hand me my arranged 

 gear, and was natural enough, and a slight slacking of the 

 sheet, not noticed by me as I received the traps, then step- 

 ing forward and gathering in he let go his sheet and stepped 

 to the foot of the mast and gathered up his sail. The boat 

 had responded to the slight alteration, keeping off a bit 

 and increasing headway as he handed me my box, luffing 

 as he went forward, and stopping in the wind's eye as he 

 furled the sail, snug alongside the wharf, on which I step- 

 ped, convinced that 1 had learned a wrinkle in boat sail- 

 ing. 



Of course it's simple enough theoretically, but if anyone 

 who has made displacement, and trimming ships a study 

 thinks that he can thus manage a boat, by judgment alone, 

 he may, as I did, find himself mistaken on trial. 



Piseco . 



[The oystermen of Fair Haven, Ct , have a sprit-sail, 

 scuoonerrigged crait called a "sharpie," which they work 

 with great facility by trimming. It is a delight to watch 

 them, as we- have done since early childhood. — Ed.] 



lew HiibJiattiMX. 



The Land Birds and Game Birds of New England — 

 Byfl.D. Minot, Salem Naturalist's Agency, 1S74, 8 VO. pp., XVI. 

 456 cats: 



This new claimant upon the favor of ornithologists and those desiring 

 to become so is likely to win for itself an enviable position as a work of 

 scientific merit well adapted for popular reading. Too many cf our 

 treatises secure scientific precession and technical purety only at the 

 sacrifice of those qualities which render a treatise attractive and enter 

 taimng. Th« newest student need not fear that Mr. Miuot's work will 

 he beyond him, and need not hesitate to trust it implicity; while the ad- 

 vanced scholar or worker will find a store of information nowhere more 

 conveniently accessible. The character arrangement and price of the 

 work bring it within the reach of all for easy, every day reference, while 

 for every sincere lover of birds, Mr. Minot's fresh and breezy narratives, 

 smelling of the wild woods and pastures green, will have an irresistible 

 charm. Such a work makes and fills a niche for itself, and_ specially re- 

 commends itself to farmers, sportsmen, and others whose daily life is in 

 contact with the birds here accurately described. The work is of a 

 thoroughly original character, based upon the personal experience of 

 one to whom its prepara ion has been a labor of love, and who has proved 

 himself an ardent and successf ul collector of this delightful branch of 

 Natural History. It possesses several novel features, such as its practi- 

 cal information for beginners on the formation of egg-cabinets, an orni- 

 thological callender for the entire year, and artificial "keys" to the birds 

 and eggs of Massachusetts, by means of which identification of speci- 

 mens is facilitated without wadinsr through dry and tedious technicalities 

 The Indices of scientific names mark the accent of these foreign words. 

 Something very helpful to the studei t, which. we believe is not given by 

 any other American treatise on birds. The biographies of the birds, es- 

 pecially of the game birds, form the most attractive as well as the prin- 

 cipal feature of the work, and include accounts of the song, nest, and 

 eggs, as well as of the general habits of the species. This is a work 

 which, in short, we can confidently recommend to our readers as one 

 with which they can not fail to be pleased. It probably gives more for 

 the money than any one now before the public. 



C opieg of this work will be sent, post paid, on the receipt of three 

 dolUra by the Naturalists' Agency, Salem. Mass. 

 The Art Jounal. New York. D. Appleton & Co. 

 ^ The prospectus for the current year contains ample assurance that the 

 Art Journal" is in no danger of being allowed to fall below its present 

 high standard, "The Scenery of the Pacific Railway" will form a fea- 

 ture of the year, and judging from the initial instalment will not be the 

 least uf the attractions of the publication. We are glad to learn that 

 the illustrations of art features of the Centennial Exhibition will be 

 continued. Those in the January number are remarkable specimens of 

 drawing and engraving, and we should have legretted their discontinu- 

 ance. "The Homes of America" will also be coutinued, and a due 

 ^are of attention will be paid to the practical arts. Each number will ' 



contain three steel engravings, from works of both ancient and modern 

 artists. In the January number weare presented with "Cleopatra and 

 Caesar" from a painting by Gerome; "Simpletons," from a painting by 

 S . L. Fildes, and a very beautiful representation of Foley's statue of 

 Gen. Jaclcon. Taking the "Art Journal" as a whole, in beauty of ap- 

 pearance, the artistic nature of its illustrations and in editorial ability 

 we know no similar publication to be compared with it. It is to the 

 fullest extent what it now implies— an Art Journal— and while gratify- 

 ing the artistic tastes of its readers conveys a vast quantity of informa- 

 tion in every branch of art. It should find a place on the parlor table 

 of every cultivated household. 



* 



No Notice Taken of Anonymous Communications. 



W. S., Rouse's Point, New York.— Where can I purchase a good 

 spaniel trained for partridges, duck and land retrieving? Ans. We do 

 not know of any spaniels possessing all these qualifications. 



A. J. C, Brooklyn.— Is there any fishing through the ice in either 

 salt or fresh water to be had in the vicinity of New York city, so that 

 one could go and return the same day? Ans. We know of none. 



T. H. T.,New York.— Will you be kind enough to tell me the best 

 part of the West to go to for farming and cattle raising? Ans. We 

 should recommend Southern Kansas. You can hardly go amiss on the 

 line of the Kansas Pacific Railway. 



S. L. H., Menasha, Wis. — Can you give mo any information of the 

 Ward-Burton gun, or the address of the manufacturers? Ans. We be- 

 lieve a company has been formed for the manufacture of the Ward- 

 Burton rifle. A letter addressed to the care of the Laflin & Rand Pow- 

 der Company, would probably reach Mr. Burton. 



B. M. S.— Will R. M. S., from page 378 Forest and Stream, try his 

 Dittmar powder against Curtis & Harvey No. 6 in his 38 and 40 calibre 

 rifle at 500 yards, and report the result? There are conditions quite com- 

 mon too, and little understood, under which one powder will shoot high- 

 er than another at short range, and lower at long range in the same rifle 

 and wilh the same bullets. 



C. E. T., Petersburg, 111.— 1. My dog in color is black and white, 

 short hair, double nose, short head, medium long ears. I bought him 

 for a pointer. Can you inform me of what breed he is? 2. Will you 

 please inform me where I can buy a greyhound pup? Ans. I. From your 

 description weshouid say that your dog was a pointer, hut it would be 

 necessary to see him to determine whether he is pure bred or not. 2. 

 We do not know of any greyhound puppies. 



W. E. DeL., Chattanooga, Tenn.— Near what towns in Florida is 

 there the best hunting and fishing? Ans. Enterprise, Brouson, Still- 

 arks, New Smyrna and Charlotte Harbor. What town m Florida would 

 you recommend to open a gun shop in? Ans. No better tnau Jackson- 

 ville for a Sportsmen's Emporium. Is this a good time of the year to 

 go to Florida? Ans. Yes; October would have been better to com- 

 mence busineeB. 



Buz, Cincinnati.— Will a cannon ball fired in a perpendicular line re- 

 turn with the same velocity? If not, why not? If it does, why does it? 

 Ans. A cannon ball will not descend to the ground with the same veloc- 

 ity with which it leaves a cannon's moutb, for the reason lhat it starts 

 with an initial velocity proportioned to the charge of powder which 

 propels it. On its return journey it has but the attraction of gravitation 

 to bring it down. 



J. M. M., New York.— Can a stock owner in the Rangeley Lake Ang- 

 ling Club have their board and boats free? 2. Will a Flobert rifle 

 shoot a 22 cartridge, and will a 22 pistol shoot a Flobert cartridge? Ans. 

 1. He has the use of boats hut pays for his board. 2_ Yes; but the 

 cartridge in the first instance must be a rim-fire, ana the pistol must be 

 fitted for rim-fire cartridges. 



J. M. D. f Irwin Station. Pa.— 1. Wneredo J. White & Son manufac- 

 ture guns? Do they make first-class guns? Would one of their breech- 

 loaders that could be bought here for $75 be a good gun? 2. Would 

 you call it good or bad shooting for a man with one arm to hit half the 

 shots on the wing? Ans. 1. We do not know of any sucn makers 

 and therefore cannot speak of the qualities of their guns. 2. Y"es. very 

 lair shooting for a man with two arms. 



F. H., Oeeola, Mo.— I have a No. 12 gauge, 8 pound Parker breech- 

 loader, and in testing it on target shooting I find it to make a very even 

 distribution, with exception of center uf target; very few shot in center 

 of target, and even distribution in other parts. Why is thiB? And sec- 

 ondly what will remedy it? Ans. A gun will sometimes shoot in the 

 maimer described, although no cause can be given. It U, in all proba- 

 bility, owing to some peculiarity in the boring. We should suggest 

 sunning the barrels to Messrs. Parker Bros., and having them re bored. 



J. 11. S ., Keene, N. H.— 1. What breed of dogs are the best for par- 

 tridge hunting? Are color and size of consequence? 2. Are dogs of 

 any breed naturally good hunters of partridges? I mean to hunt by tree- 

 ing and barking. Where can such a dog be had? Ans. Small sized set- 

 ters make good partridge dogs, but they should be broken on this game. 

 Any color that can be seen plainly will answer, orange Mid white lor in- 

 stance. Cocker spaniels should make good dogs for treeing partridges, 

 but we do not approve of this mode of shooting. 



Seneoa, Ithaca.— 1. In your issue of November 9th, 1876, you in- 

 form W- E. A. that a muzzle-loader can be altered to a breech-loader 

 for from $20 up to $50. As I know of no firm that alters guns aa cheap 

 as $20, 1 would ask to beiuformed where the job could be done? 2. Is 

 the Weston gun a reliable one, and where is it manufactured? Ans. We 

 were wrong; $40 would be the minimum price at which itcould be done 

 by a responsible party and done well. 3. We have seen choap Euglish 

 guns marked "Weston," but we do not know of suc-.i a maker, 



XY.Z , Boston.— Can you inform me why pointers are not used more 

 in this section of the country, and who hits g'-od ones fpf-s&le? Also 

 can you tell me where I can get a trained black pointer, and what- the 

 cost would be? Ans. We cannot, except that setters are more fashion- 

 ble just now . The Westminster Kennel Club, whose pr esent headquar- 

 ters are at Springfield, Mass., have very fine imported stock. You 

 might get a trained black pointer in the neighborhood of West Meriden, 

 Conn., where there are many of old Phil's and his sou Pete's get. Write 

 to G. A. Strong, West Meriden, Conn. You should get a good dog for 

 about $100. 



C. S. McC, Peekskill.— When, where, and by whom was Smuggler 

 bred, and by whom is he now owned? What is his best record? How 

 much ought a good bloodhound to weigh, and how high should he be at 

 the shoulders? Are there many of puie blood in this country? Ans. 1. 

 Smuggler was bred by J. M. Morgan, near Columbus, Ohio, and is now 

 owned by Col. Russell, of Milton, Mass. His record is 2:15^. 2. A 

 bloodhound should weigh about 80 pounds and be 28 to 30 inches high 

 at the shoulders. There may be some pure bred ones in this country, 

 but we do not know them. 



E. S. K., Boston.— I have a fine setter 15 months old. Is he of the 

 right a^e to commence to break, say on snipe this spring? If so. who is 

 there that you can recommend to take his edtu ation in hand in Rhode 

 Island? 2. His hair is now, and has been for some months, falling off 

 badly. What will prevent it? Ans. Your setter's education should 

 have commenced much earlier; if he has been yard-broken, however, it 

 is not too late. We cannot rt commend breakers, nor do we know of 

 any in Rhode Island. 2. Give your dog a ball of tar the size of a hick- 

 ory nut three times a week; feed little or no meat, but plenty of oatmeal 

 or mush, and see that the dog is regularly exerci3ed. 



H. Q., Philadelphia.— Will you be kind enough to inform me in your 

 next issue what part of Australia would be most suitable for a young 

 man with very little money to settle in, and what business woula you 

 advise him to go into, and what is the fare from Philadelphia? Ans. If 

 you are going to Australia the practical information you. go^ld obtain, on. 



your arrival at Melbourne or Sydney would be so much more valuable 

 than anything we could give you, that it would be folly to proffer it. 

 Sheep raising is the most profitable pursuit now followed in the colony, 

 and we have heard that Queensland was the section which offered the 

 best inducements. The fare by sailing vessel would be about $200; by 

 rail and steam via San Francisco about $300. 



D.T. E. Strasourg, Va.— 1. What is the make of the revolver that 

 Mr. Lord used at Conlin's Gallery, about three or four weeks since, de- 

 scribed in Forest and Stream? 2. Does the size of a ball in A rifle 

 have anything to do with its accuracy and penetration, and in making a 

 longer line shot; \* so, which is best fur these purposes, a long line shot 

 or point-blank one? and for acenrracy and for penetration at long dis- 

 tances, a heavy ball or a light one? Ans. 1. Mr. Lord used a single bar- 

 reled Stevens pistol, throwing a .12 ball. 2. For long distance shooting 

 the heavy ball is best as permitting heavier charges of .powder with less 

 windage. 



F. K. G., Jr., Noroton, Conn.— 1. Do you consider pigeon shooting 

 a sport that a true sportsman would indulge in? 2. Is No. 6 Orange 

 Lightning powder too coarse for a l&-bore, 28 inch barrel shot gun with 

 a charge of from 3i to 4 drs.? 3. What kind of a gun is the Dexter B. 

 L.? Ans. 1. Yes, very many true sportsmen shoot pigeons. 2. We 

 should prefer a size or two finer, as with 28-inch barrels and the charge 

 yon mention, a large portion of the powder would not be burned in the 

 gun. 3. There is an English gun called the Dexter, and also a single 

 barreled gun made in this country; which do you mean? 



J. H. S., Homosassa, Fla.— I would likd to ask what size gun, 8, 9, or. 

 10 bore, you recommend for ducks, to be used almost altogether from a 

 blind, and what pattern such a gun ought to make at 65 yards with No 

 4 or 5 shot, 30-inch circle, with such a charge as you would consider a 

 proper one? Give the charge— powder and shot. Ans. A 10- bore by 

 all means, and weighing not less than 10 pounds. Such a gun, with 4-J- 

 or 5 drachms powder and 1£ to lj ozs. shot, should make a pattern of 

 from 135 to 151— No. 4 shot at 40 yards; not much more than haif this 

 pattern could be expected at 65 yards. 



J. L. D., New York.— 1. Do you know where I can buy a good squir- 

 rel dog near Willimantic, Conn., and what would be a fair price to pay 

 for one? 2. Does it hurt a hnnting dog to keep him in the city through 

 the winter? 3. Are Clabrougfl Bros, considered good gunmakers. 4. 

 Is shellac a good polish for gun stocks? 5. What will take rust out of 

 gun barrels? Ans. 1 We do not, and the price would depend on the 

 qualities of the dog. 2. No, if he is properly fed and exerciaed. 3. 

 Yes, first class. 4. Linseed oil is better. 5. It depends upon how 

 badly rusted it is. Sometimes simple benzine will take It outj and 

 again emery and ihe Bcratch brush may be necessary. 



J. M. J., Harvard. — Which is the best line of steamers to Jackson- 

 ville, Fla? What is price of passage? What is the price of board at 

 Alfred Jones's, at Homosassa, and what rod I had better take there? 

 Would there be good quail shooting there in March? Ans. Find choice 

 of steamer in our advertising col u mo p. The direct line from New York 

 to Fernandina is the cheapest— $20. Others prefer the lines via Charles- 

 ton or Savannah; fares, $27.50. Board at Homosassa, $2. Take a good 

 black bass trolling rod, with reel and spoons; also some extra large 

 bait hooks, and 100 yards of stout braided silk or linen line. March is 

 almost too late for shooting, except for migratory birds. 



Countryman, Laconia.N. H.--1. What is the address of "Al Fres 

 co?" 3. I am shooting a breechloader, Lefancheux action, check grip 

 and fore end, back action locks, with but little engraving, marked on rib, 

 London fine twist, and on locks, T. Upton. Do you know any maker of 

 that name; if so, what reputation do his guns bear? 3. I understand 

 that quail have been seen and shot in a town six miles south ot here. Is 

 it not uncommon to find them so far north as this? Ans. Dr. Charles 

 J. Kenworthy, Jacksonville, Fla. 2. We do not know the maker you 

 mention. 3. It is certainly rather far north for quail to be seen, and is 

 probably to be ascribed to the fact that owing to the extreme mildness 

 of last winter the birds increased greatly in numbers, and consequently 

 scattered over a wider region. 



E. H. L., Boston.— I have a small tan terrier dog about six years 'old, 

 who has fits. While apparently as well as possible, he ia taken by them, 

 falling over backwards or on his side, his limbs stiffening and perfectly 

 helpless, rigid all over. Can yon tell me what's the matter and how to 

 prevent them? He is very fat, but has had these attacks for a Jong time, 

 at intervals? Ans. Your dog is suffering either from epileptic fits or 

 worms, probably the former. Give him one tablespoonful of the follow- 

 ing mixture twice daily: Bromide potass, 1 drachm; water, five ounces, 

 mix. Feed him on oatmeal mixed with beef broth, or rice and milk. A 

 few drops, say 15, of Ohloiadyne, given. when consciousness returns will 

 counteract the depressing effect on the nervous system. If worms are 

 suspected a dose of areca nut will remove them. 



Waterproofing.— In reply to an inquiry in your last week's issue as 

 to the quality of a receipt (taken. I think, from the London Field) in 

 rendering boots and shoots waterproof, I should say "it is as old as the 

 Polss," eo to speak. It may be found in Col. Hawker's "Instructions to 

 Y'oung Sportsmen." I do not recollect what your formula is, having 

 parted with my copy of Forest and Stream, but the ingredients are 

 the same as in Hawker'?. I nave trnd it in former years, and thought it 

 tended to harden the leather by frequent applications. The use of it 

 < me in a While is all that is necessary; it doubtless will act as a preserv- 

 ative, and in conjunction with the more frequent application of equal 

 parts of suet and neatsloot oil, will answer a good purpose.— Senex, 



F. K. P., M. D.. Pittpfiold, Mas".— I am contemplating a trip to 

 Florida, for about two weeks shooting. Do you know of any one going 

 within a week or two on a similar excursion, whom I could join? Where 

 is the best shooting ground? Ans. We hear ofjsportemen going to Flor- 

 ida daily. Possibly tome of them mey like to correspond with you 

 after noticing your invitation. For quail you can hardly go amiss in 

 B'lorlda, starting from any point on the lines of railway. Ford'e, at 

 Rosedale, on the Fernandina and Cedar Keys Railroad, is a good point; 

 so ifi Bronson, or Ceiar Keys. There is also good duck shooting at the 

 latter place. Good bird and deer shoot-ing within six miles of Tallahas- 

 see, alio at Bronson and near Gainesville. The Indian river is a 

 good place for game and fish in great variety. 



C. S. K., Washington, D. C.--1. Please inform me if either of the 

 following named dogs were imported, viz., Maud, by Waddell's Pilot, 

 out of Gypsie, by Rodman's Dash, and would a pup out of Maud, by 

 the imported red Irish setter Don be entitled to compete at bench shows 

 as the progeny of imported stock? 2. What prizes has Dr. Goldsmith's 

 Rap taken at bench shows, and) where? What is his color— black and 

 tan, or black, white and tan— and tow old is he? 3. Won't you, at some 

 future time, republish Dr. Webb's mode of treating the distemper, for 

 the benefit of numbers of your readers? Ans. 1. As neither sire or 

 dam of Maud were imported she could not be called "progeny of im- 

 ported dogs" Pil t was by Jarvis's Dick. 2. We do not know that 

 Rap (or Rapp) was ever exhibited for competition at a bench show. He 

 is black and tan, aud was whelped in 1874. 3. We shall publish in thia 

 or the next issue Dr. Webb's distemper remedy aud course of treatment. 



Inexperience:, Hagerstown, Md.— 1. Never^baving been on a ducking 

 shore, I am thinking of taking a trip to Currituck, N. C. How far is it 

 from Norfolk, Va.? 2. What is considered the best season for ducks 

 there, before, or after the 1st of Jan.? To go and 'stay four or five days, 

 do yon think I would have any shooting between the present time and 

 15th Feb.? 3. What kind of weatrer is considered the best for duck 

 shooting, cold and windy, or mild and calm? 4. How should I load for 

 ducks? I have a Parker gun 12-bore, one of the first he manufactured, 

 and it is not very thick at the breech; would I run any risk in shooting 4 

 or 4i drachms of powder? I now shoot 3 drachms at birds. 5. What 

 tize shot is best for ducks? Ans. 1. Knott's Island is*about forty miles 

 from Norfolk, and is reached by steamer. 2. The months of November 

 and December are probably the best, but you will get some shooting at 

 the time you mention. 3. Cold and windy, as then the birds are more 

 on the move. 4. You do not give the weight of your gun, but if it e^« 

 gee&j Sigfet po^dp, four drucU^s sfcrnild H?t h? too muck jf/'fe^ 



