^{OTEjrBEK 4, 1880.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



269 



iiL'came known and appreciated as an acknowledged aullior- 

 jly on the subjects of wliich it treats. Shortly ufterward 

 Mt. Greener received an advantageous ofEcr from a Birmijig- 

 ham Iioiise, of a partuwrship, to superintend the manufacture 

 iif a superior description of sporting guns, which he accepted ; 

 and, on his leaving Newcastle, my correspondence with him 

 ceased. 



The recollection, however, of the discussions I had held 

 with hini incited me to endeavor by experiment and cal- 

 culation to discover some method by wliich closeness and 

 strength might be combined in such proportion as to enable 

 n fair marksman to bring down his bird with some degree of 

 certainty at distances from lifty yards to seventy yards. I 

 tlierefore procured a few old gun-barrels, and after spending 

 most of my leisure tbnc for nearly two years, in lioring and 

 trying, and coiiKiilirulili' lime in making calcnlaliiins iind rlia- 

 grams, I succltiIl-iI in (Pt.iliHsliing a formula, froui wliif'h 1 

 deduced the following rulu of proportion : First, iiuiko tlie 

 l)»rc a true cylinder ; then divide the length into si.vcn equal 

 ■parts; open the. bore at the breech end one part, with one 

 slip of cartridge paper, and again insert 1be liil one-half 

 part with a second .slip; leave four parts cylinder, ;iii(l open 

 downward from the muzzle two-sevenths, usiu:: tlin e sli|is. 

 so as to make a tapering relief for tlie charge on l.aviti:; ihc 

 gmi. I have bored many barrels upon tliis iiri)i(i|ile. ami 

 invariably with good results. For example, the lollowint; is 

 the record of a trial made last week of three siiiirle irnn.s hored 

 to this formula twonty-four yesirsago, and well n.-eil duving 

 that period. The conditions were t'.ose presniUed in Kor:Ks"T 

 Attn Stueam, namely— 40 ysinh'- diil.inee. llOineh lin-^ei, 1[ 

 ounce Canadian soft shot No. 7 and iV drs. IJtuuilton ('o.'s 

 diamond grain bLack powder: 



So. of (Jim. • Lenfflh. Caitln'o. Wclgat. Average. 



1 s-2ln. .u 71b. 80/, nijpeiiets. 



a Sisin. .14 Tib. 133 " 



S 231U. .14 4lb. Utiz. 12S " 



All strong enough to bring down a duck at sixty yards. 

 In my opinion this mode of boring is atl that is requisito 



for ordinary sliooiing a(, RUfli c-m- - i- n-l' , ■-■:lv,,, fn.ipe, 



woodcoel-:, "fli|nirn;l>. elc., a~ ii is apt 



to mangle her 2;:ime at sliov! h -liooting 



at long di.sliinces Mt dnrk, ^,i ■ i-i .\\1, the 



choke-bore is undoubtedly vo-y superior. Alier le.idiiif; the 

 accounts of gtm trials which have lately appeared in Foj;est 

 Asn Stream, I became .anxious to learn in what "clioke- 

 bore" consisted, anil Imrim: an opportnnil v of evjinuning 

 a fine English breech-loiidin- -on lielon-ini;- to IJeul. Col. 

 Ilnlme, of this city, I found tlmt,, like most good things, it 

 was exceedingly simple and eas_\' ut e.\ijeiiti(.iu. Having in 

 my possession "a fine single gun of .11 calibre, 7|lb. weight, 

 afJiu. long, tbe average of wTiicli had been reduced by long, 

 hard work to 97. 1 fried the experiment of "choking," witih 

 the followhig result, conditions as before, but with 2-; drs. 

 powder: Fii-st shot, 187; second shot, ISO: ildrd f-ln.i. 

 203; fourth shot, 180; average, IDl. Kos. 1, 2 iiiid 4 \\ere 

 fired imder the disadvanlaga of a strong west wind hlowiug 

 in gusts across the line of fire. No. d was tired in a calm 

 interval. 



Since the above trial T li-.n-e ehoI<i.,l enm No. '} r.f the for- 

 mer record, with the el'' ii !Mi ill' I'll .,,; frnm V.f.l 



to 180. Verily ellokeJ, ,i Ml on unprove- 



ment iu llie killing iio''' I ' loi: i'.,';i . i > ■ im , .n-uendly 

 known and ;ipprer-i;iO:d, ev,T\' le.Mier iiii.l user of :i sliof- 

 gun will have at least one of hishacrcls -'ehoke,!." ^]y pr.w- 

 der charges niity seem li^dil, liut I have found lliat a patent- 

 breeched gun requires full (nie-si\tli less jiowder than a llal- 

 breeched one, .Ia.mes T. Bell. 



with your skillful old setter or pointer, the chances are not 

 liirgely in your favor, as he is an adept in nmning and skulk- 

 ing. 



Before my advent in western Pennsylvania I was fairly 

 proficient on woodcock, snipe and ducks, but for the 

 entire season, during my initiation itdo ruffed grouse shoot- 

 ing, my aggregiilo wa.s but a single Iiird. Their startling 

 whirr as they rose seemed to unnerve me, and before my gun 

 half reached the shoulder my finger would involuntarily find 

 the trigger in spite of all jirevious resolutions, and 1 rarely 

 could tell whether I liad held within an inch or a yard of the 

 bird. Everylhinti: considered, IhcrullVd grouse, in my opinion, 

 is the nohlest of our g;une birds, lie, is a liandsome foUow, 

 especially :is seini in his fall plnmnge, wit hruif and tail spread, 

 struttinir after the manner of a cock turkey. A .strong natural 

 taste for ihe sport, with skill and niusele I'lf the highest order 

 re((uired to hunt him 

 ■ ge fellow, his fief 



RUFFED GKOUSE 8HOOTINC4. 



BUFFED GROUSE tmd woodcock ;irc here in Western 

 Pennsylvania in fair niimhers this sea.son, and it hits 

 been mv g< oil luck to liave been princijial or areessory to the 

 killing of eighty-four of llic kilter. Grouse, howeveV. sf:„i,l 

 first in my estimation for many reasons. A dotr of ■ ! 

 per spirit, highly broken on rulTed L^ron.se, will .^n 

 him.self at home on tuiy other game bird : but the re , . 

 this statement will uot hold good— at least such has lieen my 

 experience. 



I believe that the ruffed grouse of Western Pennsylvania 

 a.re more ditticult to hum, successfully tlian are the s;in)e .spi>- 

 ■ cies elsewhere. Words almost fail to d<'scribe the nature of 

 our grouse country, ft is grandly wild, and these birds ap- 

 pear to partake of the Tiature of the country. In Forest 

 Comity there are spoks where snow may be seen imtil sum- 

 mer, and where 1 have waded with a noiseless step ankle 

 deep in tbe vel\ety moss among the giant pines. 



The man w-ho can bag six out of twenty .shots throULdi 

 thick and thin, counting every bird wiiliin nniL'i — that is. 

 no selection of shots— is an artist sueh us 1 leivi nnily seen, 

 althomrh I know a verv reputnlile irenileniau who elaims toj 

 have killed his fonrte.-n' sucei-ssi\e shots. There is no more 

 interestini: siglil t'l me than the variegated, frost-biden foli- 

 age covering the hills as far a.s the eye can carry, and no 

 greater enjoyment tlum tosnilT tlic bracing air of these cn- 

 cianting October mornings, and no more glorious music 

 than the whirr and whistle of the rising grouse or cock, es- 

 pecially when out for a day with the dog and gun. 



" "■ . •, ■ i|j|,i_r ;,| ii^y 1)1,1 l|OnU^ 111 



ing eif ruffed grouse re- 

 ueof Maine these birds 

 lestrian, and upon being 

 •e." N'ow, I have rcsid- 

 PeiULsylvania, and have 



id ,Vj'I 



Section. He is a liiii 

 undMsgastronomical q 

 and finally, the man and d^ 

 grouse, to quot 

 "place" in an V 

 di'faniers of ,' 

 have keen pitii 

 wanting. 



Quail suit liii: 

 under his feet, and the si 

 cepting perhap' 



who h:i 



Mv 



stully in this 

 clear and white 

 I "11 few birds: 

 u.iled on ruffed 

 a\- easily take a 

 iws me that the 



id keen found 



of 



. for hi 

 is usually 



do: 



-' P' 



lit Ihi 



liekk 



il kuiich ofbru.sb. Indeed 1 liave 



1 their dozen or more straight 



,viii of their shots on grouse. 



isite picture 3-ou may have the 



dense linish of a hillside of nearly 



d along ;i creek lined 



re, in cither 



g unusual : 





heard men tell of liaving kill 

 Who failed to aver:ige one-skvtl 

 For a diametrically oppdsii 

 heavy sci'uh o.ak and olh(;r 

 or quite a ■l-T' slope, or the bi>tt 

 equally ;vs thick with alder ami oil 

 ca.se, a 2.^-yards unobstructed vie^ 

 your steady, cautious okl ilog withii 

 working over tbe ground as tlioueii sle]iping on eg-- 

 slowly unraveling the trail, kancy him imw on kr-lly 

 glng himself over a rollen log. and coming to a halt, f 

 exjjericnced nose warns liim tlnit he imiy not go further 

 safety. Now he moves ciircfully on acain. and tlie ii 

 bird flushes with a startled boom, periiaps froiii an old : 

 or log, and tmvwhere from len vards distant to away bey 



■atiije. tmd disappears like a flash in the vcr\' densest of Ihe 

 cover. The throwing up of the gun. Ihe irlance over ike rili 

 and pres.sing of the trigger arc simriltaneous. yet (krii-ni 

 and wilh Ihe report comes a shower of iwIl^^ and leav, ■ i i i 

 charge follows closely in his wake, leaving Ihe result in cn- 

 mentary iloubt. (.)r. quite likely, he places a tree in your line 

 of sight, so quickly that il receives the entire charge: or, if it 

 be but a sapling, your blood mav tintrle with gratification at 

 the ciilting dowifof both tree aiid bird loaethcr: 



Suih is the bunting of Ihe grouse, and as the dog brings to 

 hand ihe result of your successtnl shot, you feel that you have 

 earned your bird, and you appreciate him accordingfy. 



There are, of course, many other phases of riilfcd grouse 

 shooting, which, if pictured "here, mighl smack of a sameness, 

 but let nie assure Ibe " savage reader" (as Jlark Twain says) 

 that there is no monotony in the experience. 



1 lea vv successive frosts came earl v the present season, and 

 and .already— Oct. 1.5— the trees liave dro|ipod their foliage, 

 w hich is anticipating matters by some two or three weeks. 

 U|jiin reviewing I Iind that autumn leavesand grouso shooting 

 are somewh.at mi.\ed. Since my boyhood fall tints have ever 

 been, in my mind, associated with dog and gim, hence an oc- 

 casional i-ambling from one to the other, for which, to those 

 who have followed these notes thus far, an apology is offered 

 by Bell Muzzle. 



McKmn Co., 0<-t. 1880. 



GAME REGIONS IN ]VL\TNE. 



TO those wlio desire sport with rod and gun, and have 

 but limited means at, eonmiaud, I would recommend 

 k.eddington. Washington County, twenty-live miles from the 



!i lai-d. The northern fiettlcmciil consists of four fami- 

 fiirmers on a small scale, wh.i work in tlio woods win- 



-- and most of them hunters withal. There is no public 

 hon.se kept as such, yet any family would entertain a small 

 party at low rates. For trout, ^lopang lake and stream, five 

 miles beyond. Small and medium-sized lish afiound, with 

 good casting in mid-stream and banks. The upper aiui larg- 

 est, lake, reached by a good trail, conlains large inail. but it 

 is said they do not bite. It is not known if they have ever 

 l>een temp'tcd wilb the fl)'. There are no lioats. During 

 September and October partridge arc abundant, and easily 

 obtained. Take the highway, or any of the many lot;c roads 

 that diverge from the settlement, and a liig bag can be made 

 without stirring out e^f the trail. Later along, after snow- 

 fall, Ike deer sheiotiug cannot be .surpas.sed in any section 

 easi of ^licliigaii. \ few minutes' walk fron\ tlie liouse 



L. C. Uridgha 





lall parti. 



lit. 



ilk 

 id hi 



1 perfect 

 .\pert still 



IS bed at 

 lid if his .^ 



work of deer 

 hunter, will e: 

 •ll-cooked food, 

 Ike ridiculouslv 



paths. 



rtai 



Two or three years ago, whil 

 New Jersey, a gentloniau in s 

 marked in my hearing that in lli 

 would hardly give way to tin 

 lluslicd would almost, in'variably 

 wl about fourteen years in West 



Spent not a little lime with the birds of which I write, and 

 excepting during the warm, pleasant weather — say up to 

 Oct. 15— they very seldom "tree" when (lushed. On the 

 contrary, after the first few frosts a bullet (the only com- 

 parison I have in mind at present) is hanlly more prompt and 

 direct in its flight. 



Wliile the brood are. yet young, however, and before scat- 

 tering, they uot uifrequently take to the trees, liut after the 

 date above' mentioned, for every one that will flush into a tree 

 there will be forty that will place a good sixty yards behind 

 them willi such astonishing celerity as to rivet the hunter, if 

 he be a novice; with a species of "buck fever." 



From this date I would prescribe from 3i diams to 4i drams 

 of best powder, and from 1 to U "zs ^accnrdinir to tiie cali- 

 bre) of No.'s 6 or 7 shot, correctly dek: i , , - ■ , inL- the only 

 legitimate mode of making their e: i i iiice: and 



even then, many a time and oft have l -0111,1 i.iyvisioniu 

 W^atching one carry awa.y the whole charge, in momentary ex- 

 pectation of seeing him fall, but with wings ri^d in a death- 

 set float away 011 the wind by the force of his impetus. The 

 I iking of a wing is the only- way that I consider certain of 

 i|>ing him at the shot, arul then if wing-broken only, dven 



price of #3 per week, and if his services are required I' 

 pilot around to shoot or li.>ili, liis wagis would lie s^l. •-'.■) per 

 dav, "finding" liiinself. If liis ieani is called into requisi- 

 tion, a correspondingly low rarilT. Of course. Ibis will not 

 apply lo deer hunling," as al that season he ncikcs his harvest 

 forfamilv sui'porl. To reach I here, take cars tor Portland, 

 thence sieamcr to Millbridgi — fare, :Jtk Daily stage lo Clier- 

 rj'field, five miles, fifty cents, where livery is kept by Mc- 

 Couldrick, who will take you the twenty miles to Bridg- 

 hain's at fair rate. Or if 'the party consists of but one or 

 two, Bridgham would meet by appointment with bis ow-n 

 te,am. Mail faciUties from Ciiarryfield weekly. AVcdncsday 

 up and return same day. If parties wish to camp there are 

 plenty of nice logging camps which Bridgham will take 

 ihem'to, suid all supplies (minus drinkables) can be cheaply 

 obtained al CUerrylield. The countr\ is heavily limbered 

 and hilly. Nearest setllemeut west, six miles: east, fourteen 

 miles. ' CoBP. Lot 'WATiFrei.D. 



Moose River is seventy-five miles north from Skowhegan, 



lod stage fro 



Ml 



one call fi) an\ where 01 

 would be a good place fir 

 Jounial. of Lewdstou, giv 

 been there : ' ' Two week; 



partridges. Among their trophies is a section of poplar tree, 

 ten inches in diameter, cut olT by be.ivcrs. 'I'liey camped 

 where the beavers liad worn a track up a mountain, beaten 

 as hard a,s a cattle track. The gentlemen depended chiefly 

 on their guns for their .supply of food, and roughed it after 

 the most approved htmters' fashion, spending their eveningg 

 in watching the beavers build their dams by moonlight." 



E. M. G. 



THE MAINE GAME LAWS. 



Baj<c.(U!, Me., Nov. 1. 

 Editor Fvvest Mid Stream : 



We call the attention of all proiiosing to visit the wottds of 

 Maine for sporting purposes, that no trout are allowed to bo 

 lulled from the 1st day of (_)ci,obcr to thelst day of May fol- 

 lowhig. Hut fitisi'7h'i of tlif: Stifle iirc permitted to lull and 

 take to their own houses for their own use, but not to sell or 

 market, from the 1st day of Febmary to the 1st day of May. 

 Trout. Tixim; ivkI Inufi-Loelvd Salmm. 



Amm il ,I,,i-i Ii: II iVom October 1 to Jfay 1 following, except- 

 ing c:i I j::ver audits trilnitaries. imd all the wiilor.^ in 

 Keiin, i ,11 II which ckii^o tiine is from September 15 t,o 

 Hiiv 1 ,; ,1 ,„ nnltv tbirfv dollars. "Provided, however, 

 Had lii ' I r I ,iiil,|,",if r.l,iiirirv. Mnn-h and April, ill e:ieh 

 ve:c-, I: , ,„ ■, ",;,',,■' .^' .s'/,</., t,.Li lisli fnr, and tnlco 

 !an,l-|,„ 1 , . ,,, ■,! : _ I,, iiLi'lrMnvevthesametuthcn: 

 hnm,-. ' ,■ ,, „ , ■ , 



No person . ,.■ " , I , , ■ ,'i , ,,,■ I . - I, ],,,, :,,. -mn 

 with inteutte ■,,,,, .'i |,,,, ; ,, •! ,■ •• |,' ■ , • : iii., 



any land-loel.rl 1 , , iiui 



Mliy 1 foflowini;, y .l. r ;,, ,,.,1-;, ,,| i"y ,1, : n- i,,, ,_ 1 ,-,. 



And liny pei-,-'iM i.,r in-r.-iuns knv-iiL,- in i:,::si"'-si,:>ii, eNeriit alivo, 

 any of theHc Cv^h l.etueen Octol,er 1 and ib>v 1 folkuviiig, or 

 who shall l,riins]...rt them from jikice bi |iliiee within tliis Slate, 

 slnill be deemed to have klffed. caught or transported the siune 

 ri.ntrarv to law, and be hable to tlie i)eiiaflies aforesiiid. Chapter 

 1--':',, 1,S79. 



31oose, deer and caribou are forbidden to be killed or taken 

 in any niininer from the 1st day of January to the 1st day 

 of October following. We append the law'^ as also in rela- 

 tion to oiu- ruffed grouse, or partridge as commonly called : 



Sec. ?,. No person shall, after the lirst dav of Oetnher in the 

 vear of our Lord eighteen hundred and ei^d;lv, hunt, kill or dc- 

 Htrov, with doRS, auv moose within this State, under n penidtr of 

 ..n.'bnndrcddcll:u-a for cverv moose 30 lulU:d or destroyed : "and 

 I 1 1- r^on shall, after the lirst" dav of October aforesaid,' between 

 I , lirst day of .lamiarv and the lirst day of Oetober. in each rear, 

 I, ,iny manner Imnt kill or destroy any moo.ic under the same 

 penalty as above provided. 



Ciii-ihim and JJcer. 

 Sec 4. No person shall limit, kUl or destroy,, with dogs, any 

 deer or oariboii within this State, nnder a penalty of forty dollars 

 for uvei-y aneb deer or ctu-ihmi so killed or destroyc'd; and no persfin 

 shall, between the tirst dav of January and the first dav of Octo- 

 ber, in any manner hunt, kUl or dostnw any deer or earibon. inide.r 

 the same penaltT as above prorided. Lix j-erson mav biwfnllv kill 



auv dog found huJitiiig 1 .we, .1.,, r , r ,■:,! ii„,n 



yvimfc's /i,,, ,,^',,- 



Sr.c. 5. If auT person has in i: : -■ -' i ilio .aircaKa or hide, 

 or any nart thereof . of auv sinji uniii ;-: I „ : veLii the lirst day of 

 .bniiKuv and the first dav of Oetol.r. he .-hall be deemed lo have 

 liunled aad killed the same contrary to law. and l>c liable to thn 

 penalties aforesaid ; but he shall not lie precluded from producing 

 proof ui defonec. 



-tSEC. t;. No person shall carrv or tninsimrf from idace to place 

 m tliis State the eare-ass or hide, or any nart thereof, of anv M,ph 

 aniinak duruig the i,eri..d ol Una; in wiiieb Ibe knihit; of such ani- 

 mal IH prohibited, uiideia or,,n.,Itv ,,1 f,„lv fPilhuB. (Jbaji. .511. 187«. 



/.■,i 



,1 y ■ n:. cxrei.l alive, any 

 „i,,.;i,_,. ,,. ivoodcoek, between 

 uni, d.,j ,,il .'Septcmlicr foll.-.vvnig, 



No person shall liill, 

 nilled grouse, eommm 

 thutu-fltday ofT-leceml 



imder a pena,ll,v of nut lens than live nor mora thau teu dolkir:- 

 eacli liii-d so killed, or had in possession, or exposed for sale. See. 

 12, Vhn\>. 12fi, ISV'J. 



We wish it to be dislinctly and clearly imder,sood that we 

 shall rigidly enforce to tlie utmost c.Mcnt of our power and 

 resources these laws agiiinst all parlies, whether guides or 

 Xjrincipals, who shall be guilty of their infraction. 

 E. M- Stilwbll. 

 Gmmnixmner of Fiiherim and trunw. 



I AM prompted to say a 

 sportsmen 011 the cult 

 where il grew for the last I 

 'hiiigaliout it. There seen 

 to introduce this 

 not natural to g 

 to me will lead t 

 Some time at 

 planting 



rd for the benefit of mv brother 



the lop and he: 

 tiuct varieties, 

 luig head will 

 the margin of 

 in two do thr 



id. 



of 1 



I tie 



Articles in Fo 

 ho are gettii 



FOKKST ,\; 



vater. I hav 

 that dcpllc 



atcr-fowl food wht 



ed U< plant lo faibi 



it tie seed. 



vers and , 



feet of \ 



The 



lahei 



I dci 



nled 

 lich 



,:lis- 



:,ind- 

 ,l,,ug 

 o.sits 



growth ill .shallo' 

 avenige during s 

 stund-s around it, 

 from. I have see 

 that are mowed e\ 

 will not reach tin 



slalks 



Skow to ?Iou5e River, and a 

 ^Moosc River in a canoe. This 

 ■ Lower Hunk " and party. The 

 5 .this report of a party who have 

 ago last Thursday ilessrs. L. D. 

 Mariner and W. H. Johnson, of this city, started on a hunt- 

 ing expedition to Moose River. They anived home to-day, 

 brmgin^ liieir spoils wiUi them. They had splendid luck, 

 and their account of their adventm'es is enough to enthuse 

 any lover of sport. They shot three beavers, three minks, 

 one sable, one fox and an army of 'muskrats, and brought 

 home the skins. They also brought down Sibout »oventy 



■ly, or large 

 to as high as ton feet. The largest 

 from one foot to one inch (genertd 

 and a part the summer no water 

 ain falls and rise of streams there- 

 ;k\ In eight feet tins fall in marshes 

 1 « ill guarantee that this variety 

 .vater and head out planted in six 

 feet depth. There are Ihousauds of spears seen along om- 

 rivers bere that die and decay in four imd five feet before the 

 main stock reaches the siurfacc. 



F. and S. gives a very correct account e.ycepl tbe depth to 

 plant and the time of sprouting. The last two years I have 

 taken pains to dig up the mud in our marsh as soon as the 

 ice was out to ascertain how soon it sprouted in the spring and 

 found it sprouted, and sonic quite a half an inch long, ac- 

 cording to its depth in Ihe mud. Tliis was Marcb 30 

 lo 25. By the first of Jlay it covers the bottom an 

 inch out of the mud. Then bluebills, red-head and other 

 ducks feed on it, so tlie water is winrov.cd with fine 

 fillets of it. The grownh is slow till it reaclies tlic surface; 

 then one or two leaves lie and float on the surface, as though 

 no head was to appear, for a long time, and, as if by magic, 

 rise up "to explain," tiien grow very rapidly till in blossom. 

 It seeds quickly I'lsi io middle nt Sept.), and falls while soft 

 aiid green info'the water, if standing in it. There is much of 

 it at "this time of year with no water around it. It whips off 

 etisily the lirst stri.ng winds. 



There I , ,111,; [king about it I propose to still further invea- 

 tigai. . 1 , ;i , : :. ? ago iu our marsh there were for years hun- 

 dreds ■ l .e I : ;; oiien bayous where no rice grew. Four or 

 five ,)e(us ago it liame up all over them so thick you could not 

 get through with a duck sldtT. It grew rank and Strong for 



