FOREST AND STREAM 
813 
partridge, -which, we secured. The land is posted in all 
directions, and the shooting poor. 
We broke caiup at Chester, and started for home, 
making only one more stop—at our first camp below 
Haddam. Hunted the next forenoon, and found not a, 
bird. Disgusted, we broke camp, and started for Hart¬ 
ford, where we arrived at halt-past seven in the evening, 
hiving been absent just nine days. Aside from our poor 
luck at hunting, we had a splendid tune, and came back 
refreshed in body and mind. Balsam, 
New Jersey — Red Hook, Nov. 11th. —Arrived home 
Saturday night; had four days’ ducking on one island in 
Spesurtia Narrows, one mile below the Havre de Grace 
Flats. F. E. Ryer and self lolled 91, aud the poorest 
kind of weather for fowl; six boats on flats killing 100 
to 150 per boat. Wild. 
West Hoboken, Nov. 5th. —I have just returned from a 
few day’s shoot in Rockland Co., N. Y. Quail are said to 
be more numerous than for several years, but have been 
very difficult to find on account of the disagreeable, cold 
and windy weather, and only small bags have been made 
so far. Fall woodcock have been more numerous than 
for several seasons, and fine bags were made. The bulk 
of the birds left about the 26th ol’ October, and since only 
stragglers have been shot. Partridges are pretty scarce. 
Rabbits are cpiite abundant, but owing to tire dry and 
hard ground only a few have been killed before the 
hounds. The local hunters have given up hunting for 
quail and rabbits, and are waiting for a warm, muggy 
spell. 
The Hackensack meadows have yielded a goodly num¬ 
ber of snipe and ducks this season. The latter were most 
numerous in the middle of September, when fine bags 
were made. Later most ducks kept along the river, 
where they are hard to approach. Snipe were most 
plentiful the first half of October, though not in as good 
eondition as in other seasons. Some hang around yet, 
and three were killed only a day or two ago. If we should 
have another warn spell a few more birds, in‘‘prime 
condition," may be looked for. Tf so, shall report again, 
Justus. 
New York — Atlantieville, L. I., Nov. 4th. —Judge 
Dailey, Gen. Tracy and Theodore Farrell, Esq., all of 
Brooklyn, have been at the Halsey House, Atlantieville, 
L. I., where they had fine sport With the duck and quail. 
The shooting thus far has been very good, the birds break¬ 
ing up in small flocks. W, F. H. 
Amsterdam, Oct. 31 si, —For the past three years there 
has been a gradual increased interest in an observance of 
the game laws of the State, and a consequent increase of 
game through this section, although the Saratoga market, 
ever ready to purchase game out of season, has a strong 
influence to tempt some who shoot. Partridges have 
been quite plenty tliis fall, much more so than for several 
years preceding, Woodcock have been, and still are shot 
in goodly numbers. These two constitute our only game 
birds, but we hope soon to see something of our newly- 
introduced migratory quail. Thus far we have watched 
in vain, but hope soon co find them through the whole 
length of the land. J. H. S. 
Pennsylvania. —The doer shooting in Pike County is 
reported to be better tliis fall than for a period of twenty- 
five years before. This is due to the prohibitory law 
which has been in force for three years. 
Quail Shooting on The Switch-Back.— The clear¬ 
ings along the line of the famous Switch-Back Railroad, 
of the Lehigh Valley, Pa., are favorite resorts of pheas¬ 
ants. Messi's. J. S. Wibirt, T. L, Mumford, Superinten¬ 
dent of the Toad, J. R, Leisenring and L. E. Wills, all 
enthusiastic sportsmen, recently rnadea sporting trip over 
the road on a truck. They reported birds plenty, 
soenery grand, and the sport altogether delightful. 
Meadville, Nov. VHh. —There is plenty of game in this 
section, such as rabbits, pheasants, squirrel, ducks, geese, 
etc. H. D. 
Game and Gold. —Ivy Bluff Gold Mine, Nash Co., 
N. C., Oct. 3d —Editor Forest and Stream :—If some of 
your readers desire quiet, with good gunning and fish¬ 
ing, diversified with prospecting for gold, let them come 
here. Take Wilmington and Weldon Railroad to Rocky 
Mount, thence to Webb's Mills, and they are on the 
ground for deer and wild turkey, Last Saturday I saw 
a sixteen-year-old boy with one old gobbler, and he was 
as pretty as a basketful of speckled puppies. A little walk 
in the “ piney woods ” would soon convince the skeptical 
that rabbits are in abundance, while anight spent along 
the Tar River affords fine sport among the ’coons and 
’possums. Deer are so plenty that a short time 6ince two 
jumped into the Portis gold mine; one broke his neck, 
the other rhe dogs got. Attho Mann gold mine theiminers, 
it is said, are fed on venison. The farmers complain that 
they can’t raise peas, as the deer eat them up in the night. 
Ducks are coming up the Tar River, to drop down which, 
these cool and charming mornings, before the “ blushing 
fingers get into old Sol’s hair,” in a “ dug-out" gives an 
appetite an epicure might envy. As the dose season for 
quail is just ended, a pretty full bag is the result of a 
forenoon's jaunt, and after dinner one can sit under the 
shade of the trees covered with the Muscadine grapes, 
wiih shot gun in boat, varying the time shooting fox 
squirrels with fly fishing for chub, perch, pickerel, jack 
and gar, or along the banks taking snipe, woodcock, etc. 
No shooting privileges are required, but gentlemen sports¬ 
men are welcomed ; and as they will probably enjoy fox 
hunting, I may say that red foxes are plenty. 
Old North. 
Georgia. — Americus, Nov. 1st. — I have never seen 
quail (bob-whites) as plentiful—large, fat, plump fellows, 
all of them. They are to be found mostly in the cotton 
fields after caterpillars. We have had no frosts yet and 
the worms are abundant, and the birds go for them in 
preference to peas. Last week when hunting through a 
skirt of open woods my dog winded something, and after 
going some 100 yards ‘came down on, as I thought, a co¬ 
vey of birds. I hitched my horse and walked up fora 
double shot, but to my surprise, up bounced a full grown 
turkey. I recovered, however, in time to stop her at 
twenty yards with a charge of No. 10. Ducks are arriv¬ 
ing in small numbers. The ponds are all full of water, 
and we hope for a large supply of grouse this winter. 
Shot. 
Mississippi — Corin th, Oct. 28th. —1 start for Red Foot 
Lake in a few days after ducks, with a party of five or 
six. Some gentlemen from here went to Chickasaw 
County last week and killed eight turkeys and one deer. 
They were in camp three days. It has been too hot to 
shoot much as yet; had no killing frost, and everything 
green. GUYON. 
Florida — Titusville, Brevard Co., Oct. 27th. The raft 
ducks, or little blue bills ( Fulix allinis) are Hying south 
down Indian River in an endless succession of flocks. 
They commenced to pass October 23d, two days before a 
heavy storm, from the N. E, They fly close to the water. 
Shooters in small boats, with large flocks of decoys, 
would doubtless have plenty of shooting if anchored in 
line across the channel. The southern head of Mosquito 
Lagoou is reported by Judge Naum an to swarm with 
widgeons, sprigtails, and teal. Orlando Quavterman, the 
well-known hunter and guide of Banana River, reports 
the marshes bordering that river to be full of rails. 
A local club, at Orlando, Orange Co,, Fla,, had a shoot¬ 
ing match at twelve quails, twenty-one yards rise, from 
traps a few clays ago. Result: Nary quail. The politi¬ 
cal significance of this is, that the “ Shot Gun Policy” is 
not very booming in Orlando. Al. I, Gator, 
Illinois. — Farmington, Fulton Co., Nov. 2d. — Duck 
shooting in the Illinois River at the famous hunting 
grounds, twenty five miles below Peoria, has been rather 
poor so far. owing to the extreme dry fall and low 
stage of the waters. But with the cold* snap of to-day 
and one inch of snow and ice, we look for the big ducks 
and some geese for the next three weeks, with Indian 
summer weather intervening. The forests are now beau¬ 
tiful with the hues of autumn foliage, but a few days 
will rob them of their charms. The sportsman feels strong 
and merrily goes forth to renew his vigor. We cannot 
deny this fact if we would. It is written in his face and 
constitution. 
At Harlisford, Dodge Co,, Wis., six miles south of the 
outlet of Lake I toricari, on Rock River, small duck 
shooting on a four mile rice pond has been very good all 
the fall, aud large ducks are next in suit there. 
Maj. H, W. Merrill. 
Graham, Oct. 27th. —Quail and duck shooting good 
this fall. There is excellent sport here with rod and 
gun. II. N. G. 
Indian a.— Fair land, Oct. 25th, —Quail shooting pro¬ 
nounced to be good this fall, but the birds are late and 
weather dry. C, A, W, 
Chambly, P. Q., Oct. 24 th. —Our woodcock season is on 
the wane ; nearly over ; very few birds now ; sorry for it, 
but suppose they must go. ‘On the whole, have had very 
fair season; more birds than last year, I think, B, W, 
Ohio — Woodstock, Nov. 3 d. —Owing to the dry weather 
our shooting here is very poor this fall. I was out one 
day for woodcock, bagged thirteen and one blue-winged 
teal, and came very near shooting a young man, who 
thought he would be very smart by sneaking up on me 
and catching me in the act of shooting quail. It was in 
a com field, the stalks about as high as my head. I 
flushed a bird and held on him as he made a circle to the 
left quarter, until I got him where I wanted him, and 
fired. As I took my gun from my face I saw the young 
man clawing feathers out of his face. I thought sure I 
had filled his face full of shot, but thanks to a. close-shoot¬ 
ing gun not a shot touched him. I verily believe the 
whole charge passed within six inches of his face. 
T. M. O. 
Wisconsin. — Barabao, Nov. 7th. —The season for deer 
hunting in our vicinity is close at hand. About two 
iuckes of snow will set the ball [rolling. The prospect is 
good. A number have been seen, and few have reached 
the market. Ed, H. 
Washington Territory — Dayton, Oct. 20 th —I send 
you by mail to-day some photographic views of the Spo- 
kan River at different points. The Spokan River is the 
outlet of the Cceur d'Alene Lake, the two making the 
finest fishing ground in the world. Trout will average 
from one to ten and fifteen pounds. They are very good 
biters, taking a fly splendidly. I visited tliis country last 
summer, ana had the finest fishing I ever heard of, 
many of them taking out one hundred feet of line. Two 
rods took two hundred fish in about one hour and a half. 
In the lake they take the finest fish. The commanding 
officer of Fort Coeur d’Alene told me that several com¬ 
panies had all the fish they wanted for whiter use. The 
mountains here aro full of game—deer, bear, felk and pan¬ 
ther, while duck, geese, etc., are very plenty at some sea¬ 
sons of the year. Prairie chickens are plenty along all 
the valleys. When the Northern Pacific Railroad is com¬ 
pleted, which will be in a few years, it will open up one 
of the finest game countries to the Eastern sportsman that 
can be found on the continent. Then the Eastern and 
Western sportsman can meet and vie with each other in 
friendly rivalry. F. M. P. 
The pliotographio views are certainly very fine. The 
river tumbles through a deep, broken gorge into a placid 
lake, which is surrounded by landscape whose features 
are almost pastoral, presenting a combination of rugged 
grandeur and calm beauty seldom seen in juxtaposition. 
We have already published a glowing description of this 
romantic region from the pen of Colonel Aug. IC. Egbert, 
United States Army. 
Deer in California. — The grape growers in the xici- 
nity of St. Helena, Cal., aro much annoyed by the deer 
which devour the vines. They build high ueer-proof 
fences out there, Venison is cheap out there. 
HOW to Use Dittmar Powder.— New York, Nov. 5tl(— L'clifor 
Forest and Stream In reply to the remarks about tbe Dittmar 
powder of Mr. A. Winter ill your last number, it may be replied 
that Mr. Winter has surely bad some powder made by one of tbe 
former companies, or that bis shells were not loaded right. This 
summer the mills and dry-houses were totally burnt out, and no 
powder was manufactured For a period of several months. Con¬ 
sequently the supply of the different dealers and consumers was 
soon exhausted, and, I believe, different old lots were sold which 
differed from what the powder* should he and now is. Since the 
1st of September, of this year, the Dittmar Powder Manufactur¬ 
ing Company have put an article on tbe market which is superior 
in every respect to any made heretofore. Mr. Dittmar now IS in 
possession of all necessary testing machines; instruments which 
will show the exact velocity and strength of the powder, as com¬ 
pared with the best brands of black powder; also machlneswhloli 
will show the exact strain any and all powders ha ve on the gun ; 
and I am pleased to say, that my own experiments, which lasted 
a whole week, showed that the Dittmar has less strain on the gun 
than the best of blaok powder, with better pattern and pen¬ 
etration. 
Considering that Mr. Dittmar was formerly without any means 
of telling the respective strength, quickness, etc., of his powder, 
save by uncertain practical tests, it is a wonder to mo that the old 
powder was ever made as regular as it was. Moreover, Mr. Ditt- 
mar sought to overcome the different complaints and make 
smaller lots to suit the different consumers and dealers, and so 
of course the different Old lots differed materially from each 
other. However, now he has succeeded, and only makes the pow¬ 
der as it is now on the market. 
For breech-loading shot gun, paper shells, wads one size 
larger than bore and for brass shells, two [sizes lnrgev should be 
used. The same should be well rammed down; I give it one or 
two Mips with a mallet till it is solidly compressed. By firing a few 
shots, it is easily found how much pressure the powder wants for 
each particular gun. Iffnotwell confhiedland pressed, the igni¬ 
tion will be too slow for quarteringJshots; and, if pounded too 
much, it is liable to scatter too much. After once knowing how, 
the Dittmar powder is just as easy to load as any otlior. GralnB 
C and B are only breeeh-loading'shot gun powders : FFF Is the 
only grain for either muzzle-loading shot gun or life. This 
powder must also be ’confined in shot guns by large thick wads, 
and well rammed down. In rifles the balls'must he well patched, 
tight-fltting, and pressed down.' i For breech-loading rifles there la 
only one grain made, F. Cure should betaken that each shell holds 
tbe same quantity of powder, which can easily be done by tapping 
each shell alike, which will settle thepowdordown. Pack it evenly. 
T7se large tight-fitting bullets, put on powder without, “‘pressing " 
the same down. No other grain :hutF should be used in breech- 
loading rifles. 
A great many fall with the Dittmar powder'by not following 
the rales and directions, and loading either of the different grains 
iu either muzzle or breech-loader, shot gun, or rifle. To this rea¬ 
son I also lay the expansion of rifle shells, of which 0. J. L., from 
Willis, Texas, writes in last Fohbst and Stream, as I have seen 
the different common!',TJ. M. C. central fire rifle shells reloaded 
hundreds of times 'without any noticeable expansion, and then to 
the contrary, almost looking like new. J. von.Lengerkk. 
New York Gun Club .—Bergen Point, N, J., Aon. 
8th .—Second competition for the challenge cup, ten birds ; 
handicap rise ; New York Gun Club rules :— 
Name. Yards. Killed. 
Dr. Wilson. 30 1111111111 10 
W. Murphy.28 1111111111 10 
E. Templeton . 30 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 
Col. Butler. 30 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 
Col. Armstrong. 30 1111111101 » 
E. Salmon. 27 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 
J. S. Long. 20 1 I 0 1 1 l 1 1 0 1 « 
Dexter.... 30 11 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 7 
Knowles. 30 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 7 
Dr. Barton. 20 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 7 
W. Stone . 27 111010 1 000 0 
.1. A. Jackson. 28 1 00 1 011 10 0 5 
Milner . . 25 0 1 0 wd. 
The ties were shot off at three birds. Dr. Wilson and 
Mr. Murphy killed all three, and Mr. Templeton retired, 
missing his second. In the next three Dr. Wilson killed 
all and won the cup, Mr. Murphy missing his first, got 
second money. 
Vienna, Nov, 2d ,—First trial for all participants ; wild 
pigeons ; 12 single rises ; plunge traps ; 21 yards rise ; 80 
yards boundary:— 
Morg. H. Evans .1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1-10 
Thomas Wilson. 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 11 0—7 
Mark Hadley. .. 0 01111111010-8 
Wra. Hadley.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 t 0 1—5 
Luther Norton. 11101010010 1-7 
S tr $ mul 
The very comprehensive article on the Fur Trade 
and Furs which was comprised in this Department should 
have been credited to the World. 
A TRAPPER’S TRAIL. 
A TRAPPER'S trail, or line of traps, consists of a line 
blazed on thejtrees through the woods along which, 
at intermediate distances, depending upon circumstances, 
character of the country, etc., he builds a deadfall, or sets 
aUrap. These lines are generally eight or ten miles in ex¬ 
tent, so that they can be gone over, the traps visited, and 
a re to vi i made to camp the same clay ; though sometimes 
they reach the distance of thirty or even forty miles j 
then the trappers have a camp at each end or oftener, (or 
a Bleeping place at least,) with their main camp either at 
one end or often a short distance from the centre of the 
line. Sometimes, if the lay of the countty, the lakes, 
water courses, etc., will allow, the line is laid out in cir¬ 
cular form, starting from and coining around to the gen¬ 
eral or main shanty. 
The main shanty is generaly constructed of logs dove¬ 
tailed or notched in at the ends, is built commodiously, 
sufficient to accommodate three or four persons, fitted up 
with bunks for sleeping, a fire-place inlthe middle, if there 
is no stone chimney at the end, is well chinked with mud 
and moss between the logs, and a tight roof made from 
split cedar slabs, and bark, The other or temporary shan¬ 
ties are easily thrown up by driving in the ground a couple 
of forked saplings six or eight feet apart, across which is 
placed a pole two or three iuches in diameter, and from 
this slabs of cedar, or any other tree that splits easy, of 
twelve or forteen feet in ,‘length, are laid to the ground, 
and these overlaid at the seams with bark. This forms 
the roof; the sides may be constructed in the same way, 
or with poles. This makes a comfortable house of two 
sides and a sloping roof. The fire should be built against 
a couple of hardwood [logs (maple is good) placed one 
above the other and kept in their position by a couple of 
strong stakes braced at the back. Hemlock or most any 
evergreen makes the best andirons, as they burn less easy. 
A fire place constructed in this way will reflect the heat 
strongly into the shanty. 
When going over the line a trail or drag is drawn by 
the trapper. This may consist of a deer’s head or leg or 
