88 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[AuerosT 31. 18S2, 



picture of health and enjoyment of life. Only a few weeks 

 ago ii Mend wrote to me that lie hurl been treating his dog 

 three months for canker, without benefit. I gave him above 

 adviee and last week he wrote tne that it was successful. 

 The itching of a drying scab is more annoying to a dog than 

 flea-,, ike irradicahle bane of doi-ydom' I have had no 

 Occasion to doctor my OWD dogs for years. Onfl or two 

 IiiouHiiIk of salt to twenty tire pounds' corn meal mush— 

 don't forget the salt— with some table-scraps, enable me to 

 take them atield with nose moist, cold and perfect, any OJ 

 them, day after day. Tt was different once; puppy and 'dog 

 died with distemper. 1 called it. or if they recovered, it was 

 only to be a w nek and aggravation. The hest of them were 

 on,ttrely unreliable, noseless if srtrgod, and sometimes with- 

 out being so. I have nevei failed to enjoy the hunt on at 

 count of my dogs since I stopped too abundant meat diet. 

 If gorged with rnush or pone, evening or morning, tin initial 

 run restores them. 



Have the valley or the mountain quail of California been 

 iried in the mountain region of Georgia or Tennessee'; 

 There can be little doubt of successfully acclimating them. 

 Either of them can survive some snow (the mountain quail 

 especially) which does not lie too long, and both of them will 

 seek lower ami bate ground when the -cow jails upon the 

 higher Such 1 found to be the case iu January, 1853. along 

 a California creek, Little Wolf. I think, and the divide, 

 parallel with Auburn road from Grass Valleytto Bear River, 

 during a time that snows bad fallen heavily on it*.- moun- 

 tains, and lightly noon the divide. The eicel, bottom being 

 free from snow was alive with blue birds, and the brown 

 mountaineers were abundant upon the low hills. Twenty 

 miles further towards Sacramento Valley, just below the 

 snow line, the valley quail were in numbers beyond any, 

 except a sportsman's, belief.;', c, provided his belief is 

 equal to his proverbial credibility It is not just to call 

 sportsmen liars— romancer would bo much better. Is not 

 the snorting life, and the ant icipatiou or the retrospective, a 

 romance? The views from hill tops which overlook the ex- 

 panding valleys, where happy, prosperous homes lie embedded 

 in uelds of brown and green and purple velvet: the glow of 

 a, November sun with its glinting lights and shadows; those 

 sounds from the valley, with swelling mid softening cadence. 

 does it rill not call up'an ideal enjoyment bevoud the realities 

 of life; thai sheltered nook and gargling spring, when 

 hungry and thirsty, he had hi-, solitary picnic, lunch? If 

 he has become surcharged With nature's grand elflation ami 

 some minor ingtedienl.s, let him blow in peace ami be thank 

 fill. Has be uot the spirit of Homer Virgil, Bryant and 

 Longfellow, Dickens, Cow pei , and the hosts of poets, and 

 ■nicer* whom ihe wotld eujfo and ihusi ihe -poilsman, 



who tells hi« story with garnishment and expansivem 

 branded'.' Onthfteonta effort to interest and en 



lain bj embellishing plain facts with beauties ol fit 



■ i respect, and, only cornea under, Solomons Sweeping 

 assertion on general principle:-, that ail met ..:■ 1 

 inancers. JrsL-ii •> 



THGnpson iv.wi, , _ea. 



A TYPICAL TOURIST'S TRIP, 



MT companion and myself arrived at the pleasant village. 

 of Booneville on a bright clear morning in the early 

 part of August, properly equipped and anxious to kill all 

 the deer and catch all the trout before the termination of our 

 trip. On our arrival at the Forge House we were met, by 

 our guide, and no words of mine can do him justice— a 

 splendid specimen of physical manhood, standing over sis 

 feet high, straight, as an arrow, strong-limbed, with a bright, 

 intelligent countenance, and taken altogether, the best hunter 

 and fisherman I have ever had the good fortune to meet. 

 After supper we wandered out. on the porch to enjoy the 

 "smudge," and this led me to notice one peculiarity of the 

 native: the majority of them appear to be tanned to the 

 color of mahogany, "which, I presume, is owing to the ham 

 smoking process they have to undergo from the effect of the 

 smudge for several months each year. I experimented ohce 

 with the insects myself, thinkingthe remedy was worse than 

 the disease, but soon settled down to the smudge as the least 

 of two evils. After a refreshing sleep we started out bright 

 and early the next morning tor our camping ground "on 

 Seventh Lake. The scenery and surroundings iu this section 



1 do not think can be surpassed. With the guide leisurely 

 rowing the boat and ourselves safely stowed away, we had 

 eveiy opportunity to enjoy the beauties of nature and won- 

 der at our own littleness. These lakes are connected by 

 small streams or carries, surrounded by mountains, and vary 

 in width or length from one to six miles, each with a change 

 of scenery peculiar to itself. 



We finally reached the first carry, and the guide quietly 

 informed us that we would have to assist him across w-ith the 

 baggage, otherwise jve would not reach the camp until after 

 dark, which wouknnconveniencc us somewhat. I imme- 

 diately imagined myself to be a disciple of Samson (althougb 

 my standing weight is only 1-10 pounds), and insisted upon 

 leaving the pack basket strapped on my shoulder tilled with 

 all our cooking utensils, and in addition to that volunteered 

 to carry the sack of potatoes and my own valise, ■ my com- 

 panion' having shown his superior wisdom by starting off 

 with the gun and fishing rods during the discussion. How I 

 did wish 1 had been blessed with his superior wisdom, and 

 how soon I began to realize it after get ting fairly under way, 

 with tin sun pouring down on my devoted cranium. After 

 T had covered several laps, I began to imagine myself a pack 

 horse, and there was certainly more sense than nonseiice in 

 the idea. I stuck bravely to the task, however, and I reached 

 a large fallen tree directly across the trail, and then the bag- 

 gage and I parted company. It happened iu tuis manner. I 

 succeeded in cleverly mounting toe-tree, then lost my balance, 

 and pitched head foremost in the soft loam (commonly colli ,1 

 mud) cm the other side; the string slipped from the bag. the 

 potatoes escaped, and 1 and they, with the stew pans thrown 

 in, got promiscuously mixedup. Then, to complete my agony, 



the guide unfortunately witnessed the whole occurr, ,: i I 



could not lie prevented from indulging in a good heart] 

 laugh at my expense, in fact two or throe of them, after 

 which he proceeded to lighten my load somewhal and scut 

 me on my way rejoicing. But 1 profited by the sad lesson, 

 and since then have contented myself with" a single valise, 

 the smaller the better, even if we" don't reach camp till mid- 

 night. 



We arrived at. our camp about 4 P. M., and then all hands 

 went rapidly to work to put things in order, or, as the guide 

 expressed it, "make it look ship-shape," About sunset we 

 sat down to our first meal under the pines and balsams, con- 

 sisting of fried pork and boiled potatoes, with bread and 

 coffee. After supper we enjoyed a quiet smoke, and then 

 the guide remarked that the indications were fair for suc- 

 cessful floating, and wanted to know which of us had 



decided to try our luck on the deer, We both shouted, "I," 

 but finally agreed to decide the question by tossing up a 

 cent, I being the fortunate winner, and by this sample 

 method peace and harmony #as once more restored. I im- 



: i;i1 ''Cgan to make the necessary preparations, and 



departed iu huh gtee, in anticipation of the buck I intended 

 to slaughter, aiet in my mind's eye had already calculated 

 his weight to be at least 500 pounds. Well, we started, the 

 guide and 1, he seated comfortably in the stern of the boat, 

 and 1 perched in the extreme end of the bow, with my legs 

 doubled up, body erect,, and the jack stick, with the jack or 

 reflector attached, directly in front of my nose. Presently 



I was startled &y a faint whisper from the guide to look out 

 for deer ahead. That remark completely upset my nervous 

 system. My limbs began to tremble, and rr y teeth to chatter, 

 and I was forced to conclude that I had been suddenly at- 

 tacked with tic buck fever in its most malignant form. 

 The guide whispered, "What is the matter with the boat? 



II is shaking from stem to stern." I answered that 1 was 

 I !'i -hills, and had been suddenly seized with the old 



me to gel ready to shoot. The 

 greeted with two small jets of 

 veil immediately by the whole 

 up to his knees in the water, 

 le face. Alas for memory; tor- 

 1 raised the gun and levelled 

 girt, pulled both barrels siuiul- 

 ean off my perch. I cried oul 

 it be riddled all to pieces; the 

 lotting as if la 



The guide again warnct 

 next moment mv vision w;i 

 flame of a black' color, toll 

 outline and form of the dec 

 and looking me directly in 

 gotten were all instruction 

 ft directly at him, as I the 

 taneotisly, and was kicked 

 at onee'Tie is dead and m 



next, moment [heard hint wildly snorting as if laughing in 

 derision at my vain attempt to "bring him down. 1 insisted 

 at, once that it, must be another doer we heard, and could 

 not be convinced to the contrary until the guide paddled up 

 to the exact spot and pointed out, to my wondering gaze 

 where the buckshot had mowed down the saplings about 

 ten feet above the spot where the deer hod stood. I had no 

 further comments to make, the evidence being indisputable, 

 I! I ! equeeted the guide to about ship and start for camp. 

 1 had been constantly harping on my ability to shoot, and 

 the reaction was loo great. Even the guide appeared to be 

 relieved when I gave the order to return, satisfied, no doubt, 

 that, we should gW no venison, even if he paddled me within 

 Shooting distance of another dozen. After a refreshing 

 Sleep We awoke fcta) next morning to find our guide already 

 busil; engaged in setting out buoys fm lake trout. He coti- 

 I led ..- ,'. ■ !,,"! been euchred mil of the venison, to make 

 ciirh piepaiations for lake trout lishins Oil the following 



i ■ »i unsui , easful In mother trial far-deer 



thati a my emupaoion pi -i sd to be the 



! I afternoon it settled In tor a violent storm, 



ai t we ■ '-" rareedto ibek tni sueltei of our camp until .tne 



B\ this time we had got heartttj tired of fried pork, 1 ' 



,i ■',: vT' ii ..itxions to i ry ow bands fit the lake trout ror our 

 stomachs sake alone, ii for no other reason. Both myself 

 and companion being experienced fishermen, we soon landed 

 several fine fish, averaging in weight from two to six pounds. 

 The guide being a skillful cook, in addition to lus other ac- 

 eomplishments, soon furnished us with a splendid repast of 

 which we ail partook with a relish after our enforced fast. 

 That night my companion was fortunate enough to secure a 

 two year old buck — at least he so claims— but I have always 

 had my doubts whether be or the guide did the shooting, 

 especially after having obse: ved the knowing winks passed 

 between them. The next few days we devoted to fly -fishing 

 for speckled trout; and although I bad heard wonderful 

 stories of the five and six pound trout to bo caught, I will be 

 honest and state that our largest one weighed only a trifle 

 over a pound. Yet we fouud the smaller ones very plenti- 

 ful, aud had no difficulty whatever in securing all we needed 

 for our own supply. The remainder of our time was alter- 

 nately passed in fishing, climbing mountains, rowiug, bath- 

 ing, and taking a general survey of the country with all its 

 wonderful beauties of scenery. But our guide could not be 

 prevailed upon to give me another chance at the deer, saying 

 that we had sufficient meat for all wants, and enough, in his 

 estimation, generally decided the argument. At that time 1 

 was inclined to disagree with his opinions, but since ti en I 

 have learned to respect him more for the firm and determined 

 stand he took against the wanton slaughter of game. As 

 our vacation drew to a close we departed from the woods 

 with a sense of lingering regret, and a determination to re- 

 visit them again and renew our past pleasures at the earliest 

 opportunity. Billv. 



THE COPYING RAIL SEASON. 



TEN years ago it was not at all uncommon for New York 

 sportsmen to visit our rail shooting grounds on the 

 Delaware River aud indulge in two or three days' amusement 

 during a run of aftemoou or evening tides:, Lately but 

 few Gbthamites are met with, although as far as we can see 

 the shooting has not fallen off and the birds are quite as 



The coming season, beginning September 1, bids fair to 

 be a good one: the crop of seed is large and some birds have 

 bred with us. One flight has already arrived, aud a continu- 

 ance of them may be expected Until the middle of Septem- 

 ber. 



Beginning at the Lazaretto, which is reached by the Phila- 

 delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad via Moore's 

 Station, we have three points between which there is hardly 

 a choice. At the Lazaretto good pushers may be always had, 

 and two hotels, where plain but comfortable quarters can he 

 secured. At Chester, Pa., three or four miles below, reached 

 tame railroad, God's Hotel is the headquarters fpT 



able 



n y til 



Marcus Hook, south of Chester, is not so much frequented, 

 a, the same ground in that vicinity can be pushed over by 

 shooters starting trom Chester, aud hotel accommodations 

 are. not so good. 



At Port Penn, Del., opposite Reedy Island Light, the 

 best of rail shooting can be had, especially when a 

 continued easterly wind baa prevailed for two or three 

 days. Large scores arc always made there, and the greatest 

 on record can bef aind registered in the books of Sim Lord, 

 the proprietor of the hotel at Port Penn. This shooting was 

 done five or six years ago (au account of which y&u pub- 

 lished shortly after the tim ), beating the scores mentioned 

 in Lewis's •American Sportsman." 



New York sportsmen can leave their city in the morning of 

 the day they wish to shoot, providing high water occurs in 

 the afternoon, engage theirpusher and enjoy the most capital 

 sport, and return to Now York the same night, This, how- 

 ever, would be overdoing time a little too much, and itwould 

 be best to remain two or three days, in orderto insure "the 

 catching of a good tide." The higher the water the more 



buxls can be secured, as higher grounds can be reached and 

 the more plentiful the rail is jumped. All that, is required 

 is a light gun, plenty of shells, charged with uot over two 

 drams of powder and one ounce of No 10 or 11 shot. Thus 

 armed, in two or three days, a surfeit will lie obtained of rail 



shooting, especially if the wind has been easterly ft [fti 



oi two. A novice at rail shooting need only follow ihe 

 directions of his pusher, and providing he can shoot on the 

 Wing at all, thewiiter guarantees he can kill ihe majority of 

 the birds rait up Before Hits boat. Tt, is the experience of the 

 writer (bat niore birds are killed after the middle ol [Septem- 

 ber, as the tides run higher the nearer the date of autumnal 

 equinox than during the first two weeks of the month. I aoi 

 sure our sportsmen would he most glad to meet any NfcW 

 York gentlemen wishing to try rail: shooting at any'of the 

 points mentiened. Homo. 



THE WHITE BUFFALO. 



\7V7HITE buffaloes are occasionally met, with among the 

 V? numerous herds that haunt the headwater* of die 

 Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. Last winter a three-year- 

 old while bull wa- vi , ii, ]:'■: nils: from Olendive. 

 Montana, and a spike tyc.o,' ■■■■, i :' white was killed 

 near the same place. There is at this tin 1 1 n* - i white 

 buffalo bull in theQreal Missouri herd, thai ■-■■■■ 



seen for years past, lie Is ■■ •: 1 , ■ ■■. lite 1 1 ] es 



ceediugly large and w ild, and taalbleto fai fclts beard 

 sweeps the ground and is of silvery whiteness; bis eyes and 

 muzzle are red. He don't mind arrows a Lit. and ft 

 Indians 10 be bullet proof 



The Indian never kills a while buffalo; he think it ■ 



oiae," something he can't account for 1 to th 



Great Spirit. Somesaj Ll ■ isereai d '"purpose 



and must not be touohc.i iv the re man Othoi Lhin h( 

 is the guardian angel of the herd, an I bal ; b go id hick io 

 see him hut bad luok to meet him or kill irinl 



The white hunters say it is a Base of breeding back td tltc 

 old stock of native cattle that, bed ■ ■ mix ■■bit the herds 

 in Kansas anil Nebraska year- a_'o. v ureal many cattle 

 have run with the buffalo for the j . 3 ei r-. ' Cattle 



are killed in the herds evert yearwitj brands 61 the old 

 Texas stripe, and handsome oowa without brands. They arc 

 wilder than the buffalo, more fierce and harder to get, 

 Horses, get lost antl run wild with buffalo. It is supposed 

 lien ,,,-.- belonging to emigrauts smug across the plains 



years ago --ra'.ed away and'" finally go£ in with the herd.' 

 Thi BnS result i- occasionally n 'white buffalo, aud quite 



often .1 5 eilow or parti-colored one is killed. Some are found 

 with one side oi ihe 1.1c" jjinv Ifllll Whflt - : 1 



animals are longer and, more slendei 



bison, We of ten see in a d :: '::: a piiH white 



call 1 he old men of the neighhOfitood will as 

 bred back to such one's, old white bull So if U i ifll the 

 buffalo, his gieat-gTeat-grandfafrie! was a white Drarham 



Ii is a shame to hunters to 'lex ihe ma| m . . Sis 



ite monarch of the plains be torn u . age l\ 



washout, too bad to have 

 among the "bad lands 

 age-, too bad to have the ; 

 out of the herd to becohU 

 finally wind up his usefu 

 bones and dry hide, Ho 

 White man, Indian and t 



1 1 n the breeze 



mself out to die of old 

 00k and crowd him 

 d bull ini-belor, and 

 1;:, found a heap of 

 r 'for all concerned, 

 ill as "OldWhity" 



himself, to have him killed, stuffed, aud with glaring eye 

 stand as a shining example of wdiat has been, WJ10 w 11 go 

 and get him'? H. S. 



Glendive, Montana. 



[The hybrid theory entertained by the plainsmen is mam 

 festly erroneous. The phenomenon of R white buffalo is 

 easily explained as a simple case of albinism, such as is 

 known to occur in most species of animals and birds. _ There 

 is a curious identity between t_e superstition with which the 

 Indians regard a white buffalo, and the white hunters' belief 

 regaiding white deer. See late numbers of this journal.] 



A DAY'S SHOOT IN GERMANY. 



IN 1879 I was in Bonn, Germany, and while there be- 

 came acquainted with Herr S., Inspector and Chief 

 Huntsman to the Emperoi, of that district, called the Cotton 

 Forest. 



Herr S. invited me to join a party of six for a day's 

 shoot, and I gladly accepted the invitation, as I knew game 

 was plentifurand wish-d very much to kid a wdld boar and 

 possibly a deer. Tuesday morning proved clear and cold, 

 having' had a slight fail of saow during the night. 



We started abrut six o'clock in the morning, and after a, 

 pleasant drive of about ten miles reached our destination. 

 On the way I was teased a great deal about my twelve-bore, 

 as you know the Germans use a fourteen-bore weighing 

 seven pounds. My friends called the gun a cannon, etc. 

 Arrived at the grounds, we prepared for work, taking our 

 stations some twenty yards aj, 11 : s .' -lightly curved line. 

 The drivers were sent in and we waited auxioush for the 

 game to appear. The chief (Herr S.) gave us strict 

 orders not to shoot except straight before us or behind and 

 not sideways, as we would hit some other shooter on our 

 right or left, 



Presently, a low. rushing sound was heard, and hares, 

 boars and "deer went by US , pell null (.Iraek, crack, went 



The shout. 



the guns, dropping several hare? and one 1 

 jug of the drivers could be heard, lending 

 the scene. I shot in good form anfl 

 drawing bead 011 a dec) tva ihoiil ti 

 received a command not to shoot, as it w 

 excitement I hadn't, noticed that the d 

 The law is very strict, and it would have 

 able offense had I killed a. female in the E: 



The chief blew his horn, the signa] 

 him, and report what we had bagged 



ten I ro- 

 le Iu r.he 

 110 horn-, 

 auunpardon- 

 . ort woods, 

 march up, ssluie 

 Again we returned 



.peri 



to oiir stations and continue Suddenly out came 



a boar, making a bee line for me. I let fiy both barn-Is. ex- 

 pecting to see him keel over, when, 10 my horror, he came 

 right on. I had missed him. Great Seoit, waau't I irichi,- 

 ened! Self-preservation being the first law of nature, 1 turned, 

 and ran like a good one with this beast at mv heels, with 

 red tongue hanging out, and his two great tusks ready to 

 tear me to pieces 1 thought. Shouting to Herr 8., aud 

 cramming a cartridge in my gun, I turned and fired, luckily 

 hitting the boar in tht kg ;o, . Herr S.'. 



seeing my frigbt, came "up and dispatched him by a shot 

 through the head. Never will I forget those five minutes 1 . T 

 really thought my time had come when that, black boat- 

 was at my heels. I helped eat the fellow afterwards, and 

 with every bite I took I felt I was having my revenge 



