92 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 4, : 



kill woodcock, and was dead when brought into thia 

 Commonwealth. On this ground the defendants asked 

 the court t-o direct a verdict of not guilty ; and further 

 asked the Court to rule that the defendants had not com- 

 mitted any offense under the laws of the Commonwealth. 

 Bllt the Court declined so to rule, and instructed Hie jury, 

 as matter of law, that the defendants -were liable under 

 the statute aforesaid, and directed a verdict of guilty. 



The defendants excepted and the case was argued be- 

 fore the full bench of the Supreme Court,, which to-day 

 sent down the following rescript: 



Exception sustained. Verdict set aside and a new trial 

 ordered. The defendants are not punishable under the 

 ■statute 1T89, c. 209, for' having in their possession, offer- 

 ing for sale and selling a woodcock which is admitted to 

 have been lawfully taken or killed in another State. 



This is the loophole of the law, through which innum- 

 erable woodcock may pass despite the earnest work. of 

 the Society's officers. 



The New Jersey Law.— Morristoion, March 1st.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream.: — I notice in your issue of 

 Feb. 2Rth, the communications of two gentlemen re- 

 plying to my letter on the New Jersey Game Law. A 

 careful perusal of these letters fails to reveal to me 

 where the views of your correspondents differ materi- 

 ally from mine. "Fan- Hay." in his letter, says : " Of 

 the half-dozen bills before the Legislature, there is "but 

 one that deserves consideration, and that is Senator 

 Beekmau's bill, prohibiting the shooting of game birds 

 and rabbits from Jan. 1st to Dec. 1st." If " Fair Play" 

 gives the woodcock a place on the list of game birds, 

 then he would carry the abolition of summer shooting 

 beyond anything I had contemplated. But the inhabi- 

 tants of the northern counties would be left out in the 

 cold, both figuratively and literally, were the killing of 

 woodcock prohibited until Dec. 1st, or even Nov. loth. 

 In most winters we are blessed with an abundance of 

 "beautiful snow" long before Dec. 1st, so that if any 

 woodcock had the courage to stay through one of our 

 storms, it would not afford much pleasure to wade 

 through snow-drifts in pursuit of the festive timber-doo- 

 dle. And yet ''Fair Play" cries against ''one section 

 of the State attempting to legislate in their own inter- 

 est and against another section." 



Your other correspondent, " W.," agrees with me in 

 every particular, for he writes : " If 'Jersey' can prevail 

 on Senator Lawrence to have this old law repealed, I 

 have no doubt that, be will find very little opposition 

 to his bill." As you have stated, it is entirely unnec- 

 essary to take any such measures, as the old law re- 

 ferred to was repealed by the act of 1874. JERSEY. 



%wi[* !§<*$ m\d 



GAME IN SEASON IN MARCH, 



Hares, brown and gray. Wild duck, geese, brant, etc. 



FOR FLORIDA. 



Deer, WilaTurkoy.Wooueoek, Quail, Snipe, Ducks, an rl Wild Fowl. 

 " Bay birds " generally, including various species of ydover, sand 



piper, snipe, curlew, eyster-cfiieiier. surf birds, phaluropos, avo- 

 eets, etc., 'coining- under the group Limarukc or Shore Birds- 

 ■» 



GAME AND FISH DIRECTORY. 



In sending reports for the Forest axd Stream Directory to 

 Game aDd Fish llesorts, our correspondents are requested to give 

 tbc following particulars, with such other information as they 

 may deera of value : State, Town, County ; means of access ; Hotel 

 and ol her accommodations; Game anditsSeason; Fish and Its Sea- 

 Bon; Boats, Guides, etc.; Name of person to address. 



—Ducks are now flying at Good Ground. L, I. Don't 



miss them, 



<■ 



A Bed fob the Camp. — Warsaw, hid., Feb. 23d.— 

 I am an old camper, and have experimented in many 

 ways, and through many contrivances, to obtain a com- 

 fortable night's rest in camp, but as yet have not suc- 

 ceeded. 1 would be pleased to have some of your corres- 

 pondents suggest a bed that can be carried in a small 

 compass, yet strong and comfortable. H. Z. 



The carnp lounge, advertised elsewhere, is well spoken 

 of by those who have tested its merits. The hammock 

 is also a comfortable bed after one becomes accustomed 

 to it. Some campers simply provide themselves with a 

 huge bag of canton flannel, or, in cold weather, of duck, 

 lined with wool, into which they crawl, and then lie 

 down on the softest spot on the ground. This is particu- 

 larly convenient for horseback travelers, being light and 

 compact, and serving as well for saddle-bags. As abed, 

 it keeps out vermin and cold at the same time, There 

 are many forms of home-made beds and bedsteads for 

 use in the camp. One cau readily construct a light frame- 

 work, which may be carried in a compact bundle and put 

 together 'in the woods. The bed in these should be of 

 canvas or duck. One of the simplest things of Ehe kind 

 ever coming to our notice was a sheet of canvas six feet 

 square, folded over and sewed together along two of the 

 edges, forming a, bag six feet long, three feet broad and 

 open at both ends. Through this were run two poles, 

 which rested at either end on logs or in forked stakes. 

 This formed a cot ; and if greater warmth or softness 

 were desired, the hag was used as a nialtrass and filled 

 with mows or leaves. A camp bed is largely the result of 

 individual ingenuity; perhaps some of our readers will 

 comply with the above request, and describe the beds 

 used by themselves. 



New Guns. — "Wo have been permitted to examine 

 ,,, Miiples of new guns sent to Mr. Henry C. Squires, 

 of Cortlandt street, by W. W. Greener. The first is a 

 new gun, of which Mr. Squires is sole agent for the Uni- 

 ted States, called "The Club Gun," which name is en- 



graved upon the rib, and is to be also put upon the heel- 

 plate. Mr. Greener will maintain in these guns the repu- 

 tation which he has established as a first-class maker, if 

 the one we saw wa* a sample. It has the favorite top- 

 action, double bolt and extension rib, pistol grip and 

 patent fore-end, and the hammers, when cocked, are 

 entirely below the line of sight. The barrels are lamina- 

 ted steel, perfectly straight so far as can be seen with the 

 eye, and choked on the best principle, and it is represented 

 ,s being an excellent shooter. What pleases us greatly is 

 the balance of the gun, not being, as are so many choke 

 bores of inferior make, top or muzzle-heavy. The price 

 is fixed at §85. bringing it within the means ot the 

 masses, and must be based on large, anticipated sales. 

 The next gun is the Treble-wedge Fast, with hammer, 

 having Mr. Greener's cross-bolt, which he claims as the 

 strongest action made. There is nothing special to note 

 in this gun, further than that the piece is much lower 

 than evor before advertised in our columns. The gun 

 that interested us most was the Hammerless Breech- 

 loader, and we are glad to know that these guns are now 

 brought down to a price where they interest a large mass 

 of sportsmen who have not felt like investing what has 

 seemed h'ke a fancy price in a gun. This subject of ham- 

 merless guns is becoming of so much interest to sports- 

 men that we purpose shortly giving some some further 

 attention to the subject. In England the hammerless 

 is fast superseding all other kinds, and all the principal 

 makers are now building them, applying to them their 

 own system of action, etc., and so far we have been un- 

 able to learn of any dissatisfaction being expressed with 

 them when brought to a practical test. We would be 

 glad to hoar from those 'now using them, as to whether 

 they find any serious objections, and how they could be 

 further perfected, as we are well satisfied, from their 

 iimplicity and strength, and the rapidity with which they 

 an be fired, that they are the coming gun, or, as Mr. 

 Greener states it, "the gun of the future." 



— — * 



New York — Lowville, Feb. 19//i. — I recently received 

 a fiue large raven (Corvus eorax) killed while flying over 

 Bound Pond at Stillwater, Beaver River, by one of Dun- 

 lar's guides. Last week I got a very nice dark otter, 

 caught by Johnnie Beach at Beach's Mill on Burnt Creek. 

 Both of these specimens I have added to my collection. 

 By the way, Beach said that he set two traps in a spring, 

 and a mink got in one and the otter in the other. The 

 otter laid all the blame on the mink and tore him all to 

 pieces in his rage. Pretty good success for an amateur 

 trapper, H. W. Hayt. 



New York— Hornellsville, March 1st.— A. woodchuck 

 was killed here Feb. 19th. A large panther ;has been 

 seen several times within the last two weeks at Canaser- 

 aga, ten miles from here. J. O. F, 



First Snipe.— Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 2Sth.— Yester- 

 day Mr. James Adams shot (as far as we can ascertain) 

 the first snipe of the season. He took his old bitch and 

 young dog Ben for a stroll down the meadow, taking 

 his gun along. When he arrived on the meadows off 

 South Broad street, below the Greenwich railroad, Ben 

 came to a stand, with the bitch— the mother of Ben — 

 backing him. Mr. Adams at first did not think the dog 

 was standing a. bird, but when he found the bitch backing 

 he took another view of the matter, got himselt in work- 

 ing order, and flushed a very fine bird, killing it. The 

 bitch retrieved the dead bird. This is the first snipe the 

 dog ever saw. and Mr. Adams is more than proud of his 

 dog, which promises to be a good one, as it is only just a 

 year old. C, 



Scottdale Sportsmen's Association, —Scottdale, 

 Pa,, Feb. 21th — We have organized an association at 

 this place to be known as the "Scottdale Sportsmen's 

 Association," organized on Feb. 17th, with H. B. Orr as 

 President; B. F. Hubbs, Secretary: J. W. Arnholf, 

 Treasurer ; S. K. Dunkle, Jno. Wright, E. A. McConn, 

 Thos. Baily and W. N. Porter, as Directors. Our asso- 

 ciation bids fair to prove successful, having taken in 

 twentv-two members on the 19th inst. "We are located 

 within fifty miles of the Alleghany Mountains, and within 

 ten miles of Laurel Hill Ridge. The Youghiogheny 

 River, tiro miles flistant, is well stocked with black bass 

 and salmon. A great many doer and turkey are killed 

 on the Allegbanys and Laurel Hill, also some fine black 

 bears. Grouse and quail are wonderfully plenty in the 

 immediate neighborhood. B. F, H. 



Delaware Quail Shooting — Philadelphia, Pa.— 

 Georgetown, Delaware, is a good point to gun for quail. 

 It is reached from Philadelphia by P. W. & B. R.R. and 

 from New York by the O. D. S.S. Co. Quail season be- 

 gins Nov. 1st and expires f.-i>. ..'.i h Brick Hotel ; first- 

 class accommodation, witb teams if desired. Ihavebeen 

 going every season for past fifteen years. 



Edward Maher. 



Texas— Galveston, Feb. 14th.— On account of scarcity 

 of rain the shooting has not been as good as usual this 

 s«ason. Ducks are' not abundant, and jack-snipe scarce. 



CO. P. 



iHDIAJfA.— Washington, Feb. '2~ith— Hunting in this 

 vicinity has been very slim this winter. Quad all froze 

 out last winter. Dr. Harried and W. IJ. Bynum, of this 

 city, went about seven miles west of this place, one day 

 last week, and succeeded in bagging twelve ducks. Dr, 

 Jones, Dr. Lacy and W. D. Bymim have ordered three 

 new breech-loading shot suns. Weave having a very 

 mild winter, and several of our fishermen went out one 

 day this week and captured fourteen bass. 



M. B, RlLF.Y, 



Wyoming Shooting Club Presentation.— Cincin- 

 nati, Feb. 2SWi, — Among the clubs in this vicinity the 

 Wyoming Shooting Club stands at the head for real en- 

 terprise. Whether- individually or collectively, this club 

 is not excelled at the trap or in the field. Of all the 

 twenty-five members there is none more enthusiastic and 

 no one held in higher esteem by his fellow s than the Rev. 



pfl&ent lOG&tion, he now leaves a bust of friends and re- 

 moves to Pl&ttsburg, N. Y. A Pew evenings since, some 

 u|, 'anions in the held met him at the residence 

 of Edw. Mitchell. Esq.. and were moat royally enter- 

 tained by Mr: Mitchell, than whom no more clever sports- 

 man ever shouldered a gnu. A glorious supper was pro- 

 vided, to which the forest, held and stream had paid lit- 

 eral tribute, after which an elegant repeating rifle was 

 presented to Mr. Gamble, as a' token Of rememb ranee 

 from the little company of friends present. The presen- 

 tation speech was made by Hon. Judge Harmon, who, 

 being an expert with the rifle,. aimed directly at the heart 

 and made a " good clean hit." Mr. Gamble, taken en- 

 tirely by surprise, accepted gracefully and responded, 

 extending a hearty invitation to visit him in his new 

 home, where his friends would always tind the " latch- 

 string" on the outside. The hours went swiftly by as 

 many happy experiences in the field were related, and as 

 the good man's friends reluctantly said farewell, if was 

 with (he wish that bis good example and influence might- 

 be felt in the new friendships be will form as they have 

 been in those he leaves behind, and all expressed the 

 hope that they might often meet again in the forest and 

 in the field and hear the familiar music of his faithful 

 "Parker" and the echoing crack of his handsome new 

 rifle. 



I mention this incident as encouraging to those who 

 are in I crested in the elevation of those pleasures in which 

 the true sportsman finds so much enjoyment. Few min- 

 isters of the Gospel know anything practically of the 

 pleasure; and benefits, physically or mentally, they 

 would gain bv engaging in active "exercise with the rod 

 and gun. This lack of knowledge is accounted for to 

 some extent from the fact that in the minds of many 

 good people there is a prejudice against ministers engag- 

 ing in such sports, which is caused by the abuse of these 

 sports by many who are not true sportsmen, The influ- 

 ence of a club conducted on correct principles does much 

 toward destroying this prejudice against the most health- 

 ful of all recreations* Just such a club is the largest 

 shooting club in this locality, wh o and public 



matches are attended {by ladies and gentlemen who nei- 

 ther see nor hear anything in the least ohjectioi tble. 

 There axe many such "clubs now. and the number is rap- 

 idly increasing, as there seems to be a growing interest in 

 that direction among professional and active business 

 men who realize the need of some healthful recreation. 



Wallace. 



Recoil Pads.— While the subject of recoil pads is up, 

 I want to say a word in indorsement of What you have 

 said of Ritzman's pad. It is a very ingenious and taste- 

 ful contrivance, and a great comfort to one who shoots 

 heavy charges. I am using one on a 7-gauge single-bar- 

 rel gun weighing 7 y pounds, with 7drs. F, G. powder and 

 1-J- ounces shot. The recoil, even of so light a gun, is not 

 unpleasant, while the power is unmistakable. At GO 

 yards, shot go through seasoned inch pine boards like 

 bullets, and geese that get in the way fare pretty much 

 like the Boards. Without the pad I would not like to 

 use. over odrs. powder with it. 1 get execution that I 

 never got from a gun before. The gad can be removed 

 from my goose gun to my lS-gauge in a moment and fits 

 either equally well. Gunners that need a pad for recoil 

 need not fear a mistake in getting this. 



Editor i 

 I see n 

 perienee 

 some art 

 lar gun tl 



PATTERN AND PENETRATION. 



Quebec, Feo. 2&th 

 oresl and Stream : — 



iany persons in your columns giving their ex- 



n the shooting of their guns. Seme are better ; 



but all of them give only the particu- 



themselves. In the subjoined 1 able you 



.11" find some trials that I ha 

 different guns of various mas 

 think they will compare favcr 



it 



Jos. Gamble, of tho Wyor 

 Possessed of good social qtl: 

 lies, and a full share of go 

 bines all these with a great 1 

 field and the stream, makil 

 true sportsmen, After a >«.•> 



ma 



p 



Church. 

 XCellcnt pulpit abili- 

 moii sense, he com- 

 fche rod and gun, the 

 one of the truest of 

 >f eight yea 



idium. This ca 

 particular in all 



choked, 





i by the 



char 



Thes 



de myself, and with 

 as a list of trials I 

 ih any that 1 have 

 11 the guns had one 

 f them one barrel 

 rgets. I v. r 

 als to give every gun an equal 

 iped out after every shot, so that 

 every one was clean for a second trial. 1 used No. 7 

 Canadian soft shot, 1} ounces to charge ; and just here 

 allow me to say that there is a vast and unexplained 

 difference between the ...■■ li ahadian hot "and the 

 same number made in I fiimns of 



your paper sonic time ago you ga 1 at if pellets 



to the ounce of American aol - "'. accord- 



ing to the maker, or, in other words, from ::i. fc< 

 grains to the charge of 1:1 ounces. In 14 ounces of Can- 

 adian shot there are, by actual count, 46S pellets, or 370 

 pellets to the ounce. Of this 1 am positive, as I was 

 ■k by the great difference, and I opened several new 

 bags of this size as it came from the manufacturer, to 



" if there was any difference in that way, but found 



c. I then weighed my ounce on a fine postal balance, 

 that would balance by a pellet, then counted it, and in 

 every case I was within two or (lore pellets of the same 

 "her— 310 pellets. This difference in (be number of 

 pellets will account for why t are seemingly V 



_ :ts, according to American standard of number of 

 pellets to charge. 1 used a fine quality of rifle powder 

 made by the Windsor Mills Powder Company, near Mon- 

 treal—a powder that burned QUich and moist. It was 

 rather coarse grain, and I used 4 drachms, wgighinj ■• 

 every instance 27 j grains to the drachm. 



I "used the regulation 30-inch circle target, at I'orty 



yards, measured distance. To try the penetration 1 used 



boards cut from dry spruce, OHI i ; I i Kill thick, 



plaoed solidly one .behind theolhei, one inch apart. On 

 some of the days of trial it was rattier windy, but taking 

 everything into consideration all the trials were about 

 equal in this respect. 



The shots Were fired two at each pair of targets, and the 

 targets marked and numbered for future reference. 

 These targets 1 kept, and can show them if required. 

 Nearly all the guns were of different quality, and ip the 

 English fist, with the exception of one, all" wei 

 higiiquality. These -guns were actually tried by myself, 

 and Leonid have increased the number of makers, but 

 did not think the gunsl couldhavn gotsuiteble for the 

 purpose, as some of them were cylinder bore, and it 

 would bo absurd to pit them ygamst ."the Choke-bores in a 

 trial of targeting. AIM 

 hard and oiis Eleypiuk-odge wa>l r, vui " 



