FOREST AND STREAM, 
1015 
IslaTul, deer, bear, and all kinds of game abound, while 
tin. uel-work of salt water rivers and inlets are covered 
with flocks of the finest duck, and swarm with the 
“finny” of every tribe, from tho gorgeous snappers to 
the dainty trout. During the delightful excursion from 
St. Mary’s to Trader’s Hill, dozens of alligators may be 
seen sunning themselves on the warm banks, affording 
splendid sport for the rifle and revolver, aud from that 
point the tourists can explore and the huntsman enjoy 
the wonders of the great Okefenokee. 
This marvellous region is the summit level of the 
great canal designed by Government to furnish an out¬ 
let for all tho products of the Mississippi Valley and the 
great West to the Atlantic coast a.t St. Marys, and it 
literally teems with game of all kinds, almost unac¬ 
customed to the crack of a rifle. Vast flocks of duck 
frequent its sheltered pools, while trout from five pounds 
to seven pounds are numerous in its placid meres. Herds 
of deer roam through it? virgin forests ; nimble squirrels 
bv the thousands leap from the moss-grown oaks ; wild 
turkeys in large numbers abound, and oifer splendid 
sport; hear and wild-oat add a wholesome zest to the 
keenest enjoyment; while “ the roar of the grim alli¬ 
gator” challenges the enthusiastic hunter, as it rever¬ 
berates through these vast solitudes. 
A recent survey of this wonderful swamp, covered.with 
some of the noblest forest timber in the Union, inter¬ 
spersed with lakes and teeming with all kinds of game, 
gives the extent of it as over seven hundred square miles; 
and speaking of the presence of the alligator in great 
numbers, states that on one occasion the members of the 
survey counted a herd of over four hundred of these 
mighty saurians in one of its lakes. 
In conclusion, let me recommend all lovers of good 
sport to halt at St. Mary’s; by going further they will 
fare worse. There, one of the best, most comfortable 
and reasonable hotels in the South (kept by Mr. Thomp¬ 
son, proprietor of the popular Kearsage House, White 
Mountains), affords an excellent pied a terse to carry on 
the campaign, whether on land or sea. The great Bed 
Snapper Banks are in sight of the St. Mary’s bar. Neither 
the St. Johns, Ocklawaha nor Indian Rivers can afford 
them anything like the alligator shooting on the St. 
Many’s. I should like to try the effect of explosive cart¬ 
ridges on those “ small deer.” One monster measuring 
from sixteen to eighteen feet, attacked by three of us 
within three miles of St. Marys, took fourteen halls at a 
ten-feet range, point blank, down his throat and 
through (?) his sides, and yet escaped. The Okefenokee, 
so easy of access from St. Marys, offers a perfect El 
Dorado forth© sportsman, winter and summer alike. 
_ Pioneer. 
Trapping Poxes in Water.— It is not often that trap¬ 
pers are willing to disclose the methods practiced for 
the capture of foxes. Such things are trade secrets :— 
Select warm living springs that keep open in winter, 
in places sheltered from drifting snow, and where they 
do not receive much surface water during heavy rains 
and thaws. Those with soft muddy bottoms are best. 
Set the trap with the springs at right angles to the jaws, 
and when placed, the springs to be opposite the shore, 
the loose jaw being parallel with it a couple of inches 
distant. The shore should he a firm level sod or flat stone, 
and on a level with the cover of the pan. The trap 
should rest firmly, the surface of it half an inch below 
the water. For a cover cut a slice of well-rooted sod an 
inch,thick, and of size and shape of the space inside the 
jaws, with a little spare room, so that the jaws may not 
be clogged by it in springing. Shave the sod on the 
under side from the centre down to a thin edge on the 
outside, so that it may be shaped oval on the top side, 
the edges reaching to and a little under the water. A 
weight of two or three pounds should be attached to the 
end of the chain, to prevent the game going too far, yet 
not enough to hold him where he is- caught, as he would 
thus get befouled with mud, besides making repairs ne¬ 
cessary for resetting. With such a clog the trail is easy 
to follow. The chain should rest under water, and all 
parts not hidden by the sod should be well covered from 
sight with soft mud. The bait is to be placed six or eight 
inches beyond the trap and partly above the water, taking 
care that there are no stepping stones on which to reach 
the bait except the cover of the trap. To complete the 
job dash water over every part that has been touched, 
leaving the spring by the outlet for a couple of rods, and 
afterwards approach the trap to reset in the same way. 
Tho above is a correct description of the method ; but of 
course there are niceties and details that enhance suc¬ 
cess, requiring too much space to describe, but which 
will be learned by practice. But this much may be added : 
leave all the surroundings looking as natural as if they 
had grown so, and leave no human scent. 
Corfl. Lot Warfield. 
SHOOTING MATCHES. 
Harry Miner,.1 0 
G. Ary.0 1 u 
J. Wood.1 0 1 
J. Davis. I 1 0 
TV. Sterrs.—. I 0 0 
M. Englet.0 1 0 
P- Hoffman..0 0 1 
11110 
11111 
1 1-8 
1 1-7 
1 1-8 
0 0-7 
1 0—i 
1 1—8 
0 1—7 
Highland Gun Club— PeJakUl, Jr. Y„ Jan. 16th .—Handicap 
pigeon match. Most of the members are amateurs 
Yards rise. 
A. R.Free. 
B. E. Ferris. 
H. B. Wye-nut.... 
George Wygant.. 
R. Valentine. 
11. Ivittrcdge. 
. 25 
11100111 
01101101 
10 0 10 111 
1 0 0 w 
oioiiioo 
11101101 
BMed. 
1 0-7 
1 1—7 
Rochester, Jan. 17Ht.—Scores of the only general pigeon shoot 
that lias taken place in this city since the State shoot in July. 
The attendance was good and the sportsmen entered with seat 
into the sport. Representatives from Syracuse, Rome, Genesee 
and other towns were present, and the day passed pleasantly. 
The drat match was a sweepstakes, with the following entries 
Hudson.4 
Xouug.4 
Smith. 1 
Crouch.. 4 
Stearns. 3 
Hooker.6 
The first prize was divided; Ed. Hudson won the second and M. 
A- Stearns pat third in bis pocket. 
Miller. ...% 
Arnold.2 
Green. 5 
Hoag.4 
Niven.4 
The principal oontest came next in order—$10, $5. The score 
Hooker... 
Forsythe. 
Young.... 
Hudson ... 
Green.. .. 
Hale _ 
Wurner. ... 
Hoag. 
Griswold 
Strums... 
Niven . 
Briggs.... 
Miller. 
Mattteou . 7 
Jeffreys. 7 
Babcock. 9 
Crouch. 9 
Waizcr. 6 
Shaw. 8 
Andrews.10 
Weighed.8 
Dana. 7 
Chaffey. 5 
Brown. 6 
Aikenhead . 9 
Ed. Hudson and I. H. Andrews divided the first prize, Milton 
Hong took care of the 9eeond, l.Weighel of the third, and M. A. 
Stearns fourth. 
A thirdcontest at five birds took place, with the following re¬ 
sult :— 
Wrighr.il.3 I Greene . 4 
Hudson. 5 Hale. 4 
Crouch.. 4| Coates . 4 
Young. 4 [ Griswold..3 
Miller. 4 I Aikcnheud..3 
Stearns.-.. 4 I Hoar. 5 
nooker. 5 I Niver. 2 
Wnlzor . 4 Murray..3 
Forsythe.3 I Redmond. 4 
The first prize was divided between those killing their birds, the 
second was woh by Miller, and the third by Forsythe. 
The contests for prizes closed with a “freeze out,” in whioh 
Miller kept from freezing to the last, and won. The entries were: 
Griswold. Hooker. Crouch, Hale, Miller, Hoag, Walzer, Stearns, 
Murray, Stewart, Jones and Nivon. 
G. Waites. 11111111111111 1-15 
W. Homes.10 10 11100111010-9 
F. Brown.1 0101011 101010 0—8 
S. Lamberson. 11111110 111110 1—13 
■T. Ivins. . 00111111111110 0-11 
B. Nowlen.0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 I J 1 0 0 0-9 
R. Waits.1 0 1 l 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1—11 
G. Warner. 11000010010010 1—6 
G. Maver...0 1010111100111 1-10 
O. Carhart.0 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 0 1 1 l 1—13 
J. Marer.1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0—6 
W. Curtis . 1 1 1 1 1 J 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1-15 
Ties shot off at 5 balls :— 
G. Waits.11X11, 11111, 11111, 11100 18 
W. Curtis. 11111, 11111, 11111, 111 10 19 
Waits broke 33 out of 35; Curtis broke 34 out of 35. 
Ohio— Nelsonville, Jan. 17th.—Match between Shawnee and 
Straitsville for $50 a side; ground trap; Ohio rules 
SlraUsvWe. 
H. Matthews. .1011011—5 
J. Atwell.0 0 1 i 11 0-4 
G. Matthews.0 111111—6 
J. McGary.110011 1—5 
Total.20 Total 
Shmvnae. 
B. Peart.100111 1—5 
D. Williams....0 111111-6 
T. Jones. 1 1 1 0 0 0 1-4 
G. Shields-0 1110 0 1—4 
..19 
ffitchtmg <md sj^ontmQ. 
ESP Sixteen clubs have already joined in the movement 
looking to the establishment of a National Yachting 
Association, and others are yet to be heard from. All 
clubs which have theinterests of the sport at heart should 
send in the names of their delegates, pursuant to the call 
issued, to the Secretary,Mr. John Frich, P, O, Sox 2,070, 
New York. The first general meeting will be held towards 
the latter part of February. 
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB. 
S O deep is the interest felt in all that concerns the do¬ 
ings and prospects of the leading yacht club of Am¬ 
erica, not only by yachtsmen, but by the general publio 
of the metropolis and environs as well, that some reflec¬ 
tions concerning certain proposed changes of routine will 
not be amiss at the present time. A meeting of the New 
York Yacht Club is to be heldPebruary 5th, at their club 
rooms, when we believe a move will he made by quite a 
number of members looking to the abolishing of the time- 
honored custom of match sailing in June, with a view to 
turning the funds thus saved to account of die annual 
cruise in August. 
The reasons advanced for such a radical and, it must 
be confessed, somewhat heretical change of programme, 
do not seem very clear, nor can they be considered as bal¬ 
ancing the other side of the scales when the question 
is closely scanned. In general, an impetus was given to 
the idea through the comparison of the modest list of en¬ 
tries in the annual Julie matches, or “ regattas,” as the 
club still oalls them, with the noble fleet which, obeyed the 
Vice-Commodore’s call in the August cruise of the year 
just closed. For the matches the entries numbered thir¬ 
teen?, and for the cruise something over thirty vessels gath¬ 
ered under the anqfle broadside of tho big Rambler. Nat- 
erally enough, after oiie of the most successful cruise, 
undertaken by any club at home or abroad, a strong un¬ 
dercurrent was met, and outspoken advocates of a new 
and rather bold step came to the surface. Why not 
abolish the June “regatta” altogether, save the funds 
and charter a big steamer to cruise along with the squad¬ 
ron up the Sound with guests of the club on board ? 
The plan looks feasible enoughiat first, but will hardly 
hold water when put to the test. In the first place, we 
assume it is only upon the supposition that the club 
funds would thereby be put to a better or more advan¬ 
tageous use, that the annual races of the club are to he 
abandoned altogether and the cruising steamer attached 
to the squadron instead. But upon investigation it will 
be seen that lio such exchange can he made, as the bal¬ 
ance sheet of the chib is just about even at the end of the 
year with the present expenditure of the funds. Should 
the projected 11 cruising steamer ” be attached as an item 
of the debit account, the club will be out of pocket to the 
time of several thousand dollars, an aspect of affairs not 
over agreeehle to contemplate, even for those members 
most interested in bringing about the change. This is 
about the story figures have to tell: 
Total expenses of June matetios, not to he particular 
about the odd cents involved. $2,404 
Cruising steamer, 15 days, say.. . «g 
Music, tickets, wharfage, etc.... 
Guests (100), 4,500covers. "" 3 000 
.. $3,000 
Total.......$6,404 
Excess crutstug steamer Over races .. _ .. $4,000 
Certainly a neat little floating debt, even for a club 
whose annual income reaches $9,943. But in this ac¬ 
count figures havo been based upon more moderate de¬ 
mands than altogether agreeable to many of the probable 
guests of the club. Thus music has been confined to a 
hand-organ, with harp and fiddle, by itinerant artists 
from sunny Italy, whose strains would become monoto¬ 
nous before the cruise winds up, even if they did not 
drive all hands to seek an untimely watery grave, 
Again, frugality has been studied in the item of $4,500, 
meals, and liberal discount has been deducted for those 
lOng-shore tars of the sterner sex and the delicate 
maidens among the weaker who would find It convenient 
to abstain from joining at the festive board Out of regard 
for the proper harmony of affairs. Finally, it is an open 
question whether a suitable steamer (sho must have 
sleeping cabins) can be had for the sum indicated during 
the height of the season. So much for the expenses, 
should the idea be to offer the cruise free to guests of the 
club. 
If, on the contrary, it is proposed to issue tickets to 
members, to be disposed of by them to their friends at a 
figure sufficient to cover “board and lodging,” the ex 
penses will be overcome by 100 guests at $60 a person ! 
And where can the N. Y. Y. C. find a hundred $60 en¬ 
thusiasts of the kind ? Or keeping in view only the ex¬ 
cess of $4,000 over and above the expenses of the June 
raoing, where are the one hundred $40 martyrs to come 
from, to put up in resignation with the sweltering cabins 
and berths, 6 ft. by 2, and musty linen and confinement 
and sea-sickness and the like, to say nothing of the real 
danger in even moderately rough water to one of our 
side-wheel river boats, the danger of topheaviness in a 
breeze, and the chances of wreck when struck by a sea 
under the guards, or of doubling up like a jack-knife in 
the short lumps to be met with about Judith and the 
Vineyard towards the closing days of August? Really, 
to pay $60 or $40 for the privilege of undergoing the 
mild, slow torture such a trip would entail, would be an 
excess of self-sacrifice with which we are not prepared to 
credit any considerable body of the public ; least of all 
the gentle guests of the N. Y. Y. C. Your regular tar 
will ship aboard one of the yachts as an extra hand in the 
cabin ; your tame landsmen is not likely to be wrougt up 
to that pitch of enthusiasm for the cause as a $60 ticket 
and fifteen days of the harrowing and desperate hard¬ 
ship of a two weeks’ cruise on a common steamboat would 
seem to entail. 
Probably the members interested in carrying through 
the innovation of a cruising steamer—a sort of family ap¬ 
pendage to the squadron—have their own views to 
advance, and should be heard from before final judgment 
is given, but we must confess the whole scheme appears 
chimerical. 
On the opposing side, however, some valid objections 
can be raised. The additional expense with no adequate 
provision to cover.it; the possible failure of guests to 
appear in the desired number ; the undoubted loss in 
prestige of a club which confesses itself unable to bring 
to the line entries enough to make it worth while provid¬ 
ing prizes for its annual matches ; the greater affinity its- 
racing members would rapidly exhibit for some of its 
more enterprising rivals ; driving new yachts into other 
clubs to get then- racing, which otherwise would gravi¬ 
tate to the N. Y. Y. C.; th6 questionable advantage of 
turning a cruise intended to promote seamanship into a 
mere excursion, or a sort of variety performance, and the 
general impracticability of the whole “ cruising steamer” 
plan. It will be difficult, we think,'to set aside such weighty 
reasons for the perpetuation of the June races for all time 
to come just as in the past. 
It is wide of the mark, moreover, to regard the annual 
races as a failure in any sense of the word. The average 
entries back to 1845 have been more than satisfactory, 
Out of a total of thirty-four races only five were deferred ; 
two owing to “too much” wind, and only three owing to 
want of wind. The average number of starters from 1845 
to 1879 was thirteen, excluding international races for 
America Cup, and the year 1861, during which the usual 
regatta was omitted in consequence of the war. For the 
last five years the number of starters averaged sixteen, 
showing that racing has not at all deolined, as is so gen¬ 
erally asserted by persons unacquainted with the facts. 
Even in 1879 there were fourteen entries, thirteen starters 
and ten finished—figures quite up to the club’s average, 
and what is more, the racing of 1879 was particularly 
smart and interesting. 
The time made during the last five years will 
average about 5h. SOin., or taking the distance 
sailed at forty miles only, the average speed will be 
seven miles, or nearly six knots, certainly a fair rate for 
racing purposes. This year there is so much building 
underway that many new craft will be out early in the 
season and their owners will want to know what their 
