130 



FOREST. AND STREAM. 



[Sept, U, 1882. 



THE RANGE OF THE SHOTGUN. 



MUCH has been said regarding the "method." "loading?' 

 and shooting power of Ihe breech-loading shotgun of 

 modern times, anal propose to add my mite to the large 

 amount of argument on this important point. 1 will .speak 

 from a practical standpoint, and give my virus as an advo- 

 cate of the "newfangled" notion. 



The average breech-loader will, when its peculiarities are 

 discovered andhumored, kill game at all distances "from 

 the muzzle" to "one hundred and til'l.y yards," ( ?) hut Ihe 

 long shots are only done in private performance, and the 

 cartridges are always "improperly loaded" if the owner of 

 the long-range gun he called upon to exhibit tlie "wonder- 

 ful" gun. 



J have bad an experience of sevcnieeii years with all kinds 

 of guns, and I have utterly failed to find a gun that will 

 kill game (excepting chance shots) at anything like "one 

 hundred and titty yards." | and plainly stale that 1 don't be 

 lieve the gun is now made, or ever will be, that will do such 

 work. 



In a varied field aud forest experience 1 have killed game 

 a1 very long range, say 75 to 100 yards, hut only claimed 

 then and now that mere chance was the only real cause 



The experience of some of our best field shots in this sec- 

 tion, claim that a gun is "A I" if it will kill game from 40 

 to 00 yards in "fair field and no favor." Dlsta nee is greatly 

 Overrate ■ generally speaking, and when we down a duck 

 at -10 or 50 yards, it looks like a far greater distance— to the 

 "green band " 



Some time aeo I was in cuuipanj with ,t young Sports 

 man ducking, and in passing over a largi marsh came uu 

 expeetedly upon a large flock of geese at about 150 yards 

 distance Knowing I could get no closer excepting by a 

 "run," I COcked both barrels, and with "far-stivteh'ing 

 steps" went hurriedly loward the now thoroughly alarmed 

 geese, while my companion stayed in the rear, "horrified" 

 at my "Irying'lo run down some wild honkers.' i sue 

 eeetied finally in flushing them: and cm their taking wing 



gave them first the right and Ihen the left, bringing to 

 hag it fine old gander. My friend now came up on ihe 

 run and emptied both barrels of his piece al the now 

 distant "feather beds," and exclaimed: "What in the devil 

 have you for a shotgun? That goose was nearly 200 yards 

 off!" " 



1 told him I had a fair shooting etui, one that done 

 good work at all times, but he must tie slightly mistaken 

 in judging the distance of the shot, that it could not be 

 over ninety or ninety-five yards at best. 



We then paced it off, aud found from where i made 

 the shot to where the bird fell was just one hundred 

 yards or .paces. I then told him I did not expect to draw 

 a feather from the geese, let alone kill, but made it. a rule 

 to not let a bird go "unsaluted" at anything under ninety 

 yards, and had accidentally killed many birds at that dis- 

 tance. 



On looking over the old honker we found one "B." had 

 found a "resting place" in his head, and he was thereby 

 brought to bag.' 1 have heard a great many "old hnu|ers"(?) 

 claim their guns would "switch them (the birds) every rime 

 at from 100 to 150 yards."an absolute, known misstatement. 



No gentlemen, 'the gun cannot lie made that will kill 

 game with any kind of shot 150,Qr even ?5 yards "-every 

 lime. "and 1 'know it as well as other men who have had 

 any considerable experience with shotguns. 



If sou happen to "gel hold" of a breech or mussisle loader, 

 len or twelve-gauge, that will kill every third time at sixty 

 yards, thank your lucky stars and guard it day And night 

 "for fear it may lake wings and tly away, "1 once got 

 acquainted with" a "gent" who formerly lived in "York 

 State," who "once owned an old Springfield rifle that he 

 could kill prairie hens out of trees at eighty rods, every 

 time!" * * * * At one. time this extraordinary gun 

 "strained" its barrel on one very loug shot and was "never 

 worth a cent afterwards." 



Long shots, I claim, are accidental if made out of Ordinary 

 bounds of shotgun range, and are nearly always made alone. 



Keep the ball in motion. Will a gun loaded with shot 

 kill at 150 yards "every time" or not? Dem„ 



Sack Centre, Minn. 



Pbahhe Chickens in Iowa and Minnesota, — Waukon, 

 Iowa, Sept. 1. — I came down here tha 12th of August, 

 and have had pleasant shooting since the lolh. JIa.ny 

 sportsmen are here who observe the law, hut I hear 

 not one who hazards the observation that he would 

 were he debarred from shooting until September I. 

 The cold rains struck in the 30th, and that, practi- 

 cally closes the chicken season. There may be, still, 

 warm days upon which the birds may lay to the dogs, but 

 they will" be exceptional, and the man" in Minnesota who has 

 wailed with a \oungdog for the season to open will have 

 very few days'" sport ; but many of tribulation of spirit. This 

 latter man I have yet to hear of, and can name you a half 

 hundred between Rushford and the Dakota line who have 

 bagged birds for 1vvo weeks. Indeed, I received chickens 

 before 1 left (sent down in a shooting jacket left there last 

 yean that were shot within siaht of the steeples of Fairmont, 

 'in conclusion I inake the Statement that I know "one-half 

 in. sportsmen (local) between the Mississippi River and the 

 Dakota line have shot birds for twenty days." I ask you 

 what inducement is therefor you or me to go along that line 

 shooting now the season is opened, — X. 



A Most Curious Agcttjeot happened to a California 



sportsi 



a relative 

 Benito hi 

 bis corn]); 

 a buck. ¥ 

 ■aft 



"day. In company wit 

 as hunting deer in the Sa 

 hundred yards distant f'roi 

 d iu the brush the antlers of 



Ma±NB Coast SHOOltare.— Old Orchard, Me., September, 

 1882. — It is not generally known that the finest, place for 

 shooting on Che Blaine roast is at Camp Bills, situated at the 



mouth of Saeo River, three milesirom Old Orchard Beach. 

 It. is one of the most charming places in the world, abound- 

 ing in fine natural scenery, pine air and excellent fishing, 

 while ils attractions as a shooting resort are unequaled. It 

 is reached by Boston & Maine Railroad. Parties can go to 

 Old Orchard by train, aud drive to Camp Ellis, or leave 

 ears it Saeo and lake .steamer down the river. It, is a de- 

 lightful half hour's sail, past fine old hardwood growths, 



smooth fields, wooded 



picturesque old huildii 

 decay. The Camp Ellii 

 river, within five mi mill 

 summer it is crowded ( 

 WhO come with joy ;u 

 Septe: " 



id here and ther 

 wn and fast falling to 

 :hl on the bank of Ihe 

 steamer landing. In 



I lei 



■ health 



ml pleasure, 



her and October tl 

 uproved bv the etilhusiastic sportsman Among others 

 here at present is .lohnnv Jones, of Maiden, sent bv the 

 Natural llisioiy Soeii ty of Boston, lie has already lost his 

 head over the place, aud is out with a gun at. all hours. 

 Recently ho baggedeighty birds befoie breakfast, which is 

 a record to be proud of, A gentleman from New Tori, as- 

 -anes iiir he has often killed ducks from the piazza, and says 

 nowhere else is there such fine shooting. Will Fredericks, 

 of Boston, also well known in sporting circles, got two hun- 

 dred birds inside of two days, and thinks he can do even 

 better. On the opposite bank of the river isaheayv hard 

 WOOd growth, Where the red pquil're] is at home and chal- 

 lenges attention. Plover are shoi in great numbers, also 

 pigeons. Vorysoon the water will hie blackwitli thewQd 

 duck, and ihen the real fan begins The crack of the fowl- 

 ing -piece is heard from morning till night, and there is 

 much friendly rivalry between the boys, Parties desiring 

 to come here should address C. A Tar'r, Camp Ellis House, 

 Old Orchard, Me It will be open all the fall — F, K. 

 Hamilton; 



Hackensalj; Bail.— New York. September 7.— E, W. 

 and myself spent Wednesday rail shooting on the Hacken- 

 sacls meadows. The birds flew well but were very difficult 

 to get, the tide being so high. We killed thirty-three be- 

 tween us. Blackbirds plentiful — shot several. When 

 pigeons commence to flock intend going to Newfoundland 

 onN. V. S. & W. R. R. ; will report luck.— Boah. 



Adirondack Dr.Kii.— "Meacham Lake, N. Y., September 

 6. — Our fall hunting is jus! beginning: one New York broker 

 brought in six partridges yesterday. We are not running 

 deer with dogs yet. for the reason that we get all the venison 

 we want night hunting, or by watching on the streams be- 

 fore dark. The indications for good shooting were never as 

 good here at this season as now. — A. R. Fflleh. 



Ij.i 



Chiokent 



the 201 h 



is. — Charleston, Sept. 7. — Messrs, Chambers and 

 rted out, at noon on Ihe second inst. and returned 

 ml S P. M. They counted out twenty-six prairie 

 That was a very large bag Eoi this locality. On 

 ult. John Cartwrighl and Isaac Hughes bagged 

 seventeen prairie chickens. — Fox Sqt iruki.. 



i, ,r ..i La Salle, Sept. 6. — Chicken shooting has been 

 very good with us. t have shot, hunting over my old set 

 ter bitch Daisy, from eighteen to fort;,- six in one daj . Quail 

 I found in my tramps quite plentiful and large coveys. — 

 T. O. 



§ amp <gm 0hfapng$< 



That reminds me." 



)m New York lives 

 s love of the angle i 



rej 



eat hi> 



folh 



imai 



)'";' 



huniai 



eifo 



1, he 



his 



life. 



ptiou iiu 



To furthei 





rubers 



ofth 

 ingi 



■ selir 



1\ 



as fish 



a the 



t through 

 I, only to 



Id, and 

 lance of 



IN a city not far from New York lives a minister as much 

 celebrated for his love of the angle as for his profession. 

 While speaking to his Sunday school one afternoon on the 

 text. "Depart from evil and do good." he drew for illustra- 

 tion the simile of II wayward child leavinghomeand all good 

 influences, he rushed into the broad paths ol 

 Ihe intercession of parents and friends is re 

 n and again. Finally, i 

 is at last brought, back I 

 i vice made a certainty for the balane 

 ■ simplify the illustration to the yoiui_ 

 iol, the pastor said: "A few months ago 

 Maine woods. At the break of a fish on 

 the waters of the stream 1 east out my flies. A noble trout 

 arose, seized the bait and away he plunged carrying almost 

 all the line I had on my reel. " Again and again. T drew the 

 fish near the canoe and" attempted to laud him, but, away he 

 wotdd go, only to repeat the straggle, Finally, tired out 

 and weary with his efforts to escape, I at last drew him in. 

 and slipping my landing net under the fish, threw him into 

 my boat safe beyond all.escape." Gazing about, on his au- 

 dience to see the effect of tile moral of his story, the silence 

 was suddenly interrupted by a small boy in the front seat, 



who astonished the school by exclaiming: "But. .Mister , 



how much did he w eigh-?" 



I wonder if any readers of Fohjbst AND Stream ever 



heard about 01 

 of I hem down ii 

 and the quest io 

 Some one suggi 



without live bail 

 pigs which he v 



s. Smith's "live bait '.'" There was a, party 

 Maine somewhere, and w ere going fishing, 

 vhere should they procure bait? 



led pork 

 ired thai 

 A neigh 

 s willing 

 rial to th 



reupc 

 e would 



ring fare 

 sell for 



Chi 



bees 



Uii 



lll'S- 



) kill a , 



ng in the brush, and, thi 



idly-sf/.-d.leer, raised his 



Mr. Ash- hand i 



uld change owners. 



Noil on, whoi 

 er this whole ei 



happ. 

 Oi 



see' 



s 1 In 



)f the 

 death m 



Now.' 

 gilt best he 



ol think of fishing 

 r had some sticking 



J3.50 apiece; aud it 



3f the party that the 



parly 



rial 



i sad- 



iily 



iffe 



id he v 



that, he was i 



took careful aim at where he thought the body of the animal 

 ought to be, and fired. Tin- ball struck Mr, Spilzer in the 

 right elbow, passing through it and the upper portion of the 

 hip bone, and ranging across the abdomen. The wounded 

 man is not, expected to recover. 



Flobida.— Tampa, Aug. 38. — As usual we have plenty of 

 quail, and the first brood are fully (hrec-ijuariers grown and 

 huge enough to shoot. 1 have the orange craze like every one 

 else in Florida, and am sorry to say thai it DCCUpii 

 much of my time that my guns lay rusting in their eases, 

 and the poor old setter Rat comes and looks up iu my face 

 wistfully, aud almost says. "Why don't you get your gun, 

 for don't you hear those quail whi-sthugV"— W. A. M. 



■ordinglygivi 

 fortunately. Sam understood the prior Li 

 thinking i't loo much, he offered the farm 

 it is needless to say, was quickly taken. Tl: . 

 up, labeled "live bait," and directed to Christopher Smith: 

 but the laugh was rather faint when they came to compare 

 notes on the price of the pork. — Sassa-ccs. 

 South AarNGTON. Mass. 



which, 

 r was boxed 



olographs of the crowned heads ot the 



' Mrs. Langtiw. and alt th-- other English 



sses ami other celebrities CHARLES I, 

 -. is'ew Wirt, e'irv. —Ado. 



. i. " j i...-. jiii.. !>.-.;■ :s.:at' business. 



lea and Miivw 



I )i-u:k Seasons.— See table of open seasons for ywme <u«t pit 

 //, i.«<tf-„f Jiilti 20. 



FISH IN SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 



Lake trout, Criztivomm nomay- 1 Pike (H i~ pickerel), Mb* IWim 



Slsoowet, OriEl atr, i « met. rale-perch Wall-eyed pike) Sit 



...L..I- ,' '.- ... ,.,/i!»7/.ir. 



s.u.r v 



.'/I,... 



,1.1'iu-l 



etc.;, 

 uluria. 



Bluefish or taylor, Pumatmmn 

 saltatrix. 



Weak-fish or squelague. Ci/hub 

 i-ii,... '-Utah's. 



H3r This table is general. 



States see table of Open 8eaS05 



," C#noxc!/<m Caroline-*- 

 <1, Archuiurfius proba- 

 V Barb, Mail .cirrus ne- 



Dnilii. Potion ia* chcomi.1. 



Lafayette, Liostonins abtiquus. 



Red bass. etc.. s-rkciiGoxoccUGlit:.. 

 For special laws in the several 

 ' — in issue of July 20. 



The principal distinctions that s 



the o.. in of Long Island, or, I inig 

 and those of the British isles, is, ft 



i-i-ii.., i 



THE INVITATION. 



(To a Bottom-fisher, i 

 /i OME ye who love to fish 

 vV And stray by water's brink; 



"■■irne yo, v.-:t:: k:-?Li '.eh-r.. 

 And see the float down sink. 



'.- L!t,.-!'S 



lealn] 



The perch await us mere— 

 Perchance a bass, or two, -. 



Shall dart from out their lai: 

 And give us pleasure true. 



There will wc bait oar (look 

 Witt, brandling, clear and hright. 



And read from Katui-e ? s buOk 

 While waiting for a WtK. 



And when the tell-tale float 



Shall nervous warning gh .- 

 That some giU-guaraed throat 



Is 



gtor 



The well-adjusted bait, 



We'll ,L .strike" with e;nj if,eal 

 Ki e yet it be too late— 

 And bring the fish to creel 



Ah! angling, dear my friend, 



Hath many a toy full sweet. 

 And unto our life's end 



Its pleasures we will greet : 



Then come on Tuesday next, 



Prepared for a campaign. 



Aud leave all questions vext 



Aud find what erst dear Walton found - 



No angler ean deny it!— 

 A joy too deep for tongue to sound. 



And "Study to be Quiet:*' 0. W. K. 



THE CALIFORNIA SALMON. 



nPHERE is something exceedingly strange in the habits 

 _L of the Oncorhijncljui cAotnch/t. or quinnat salmon, 

 when planted in the East. Placed in streams flowing into 

 the Atlantic, they are seen to feed and thrive through the 

 parr stage and then disappear forever. At tic- last meeting 

 of Ihe American Fisbeultural Association. Col. 3IcDoiiald, 

 of the Virginia and fj. S. Fi;h Cona-ais : as, ad -anced the 

 theory that the fish found the ten. pi . ture o : Dlit rivers too 

 high for them to enter for the purposes of spawning, and 

 therefore backed off to sea again; that the short streams 

 of the Pacific coast whose heads are among mountains, 

 where the snow lies all the year, were cooler than ours, es- 

 pecially at their mouths, and that the Eastern rivers often 

 presented a temperature of eighty degrees to the fish, which 

 expected to find cooler water, "if This be so, then where 

 do the fish go. presuming that they are alive ami seeking 

 a place to deposit their ova? They are not taken in the 

 nets near the rivers' mouths, nor yet by the purse-netters 

 out at sea. On the other hand, we know that they have 

 lived in some fresh waters, and, becoming "land-locked," 

 have spawned. This has been the case with those planted 

 kg 3lr. Fairbauk in Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, and they 

 have lived and grown to great size in private ponds, 



We have a still stranger story to relate of this fish. In the 

 autumn of 1S73 we had a few thousand eggs of this salmon 

 sent ils for experiment at. LToneoye Falls, Monroe Co., IS. T., 

 while engaged in trout-culture at that place, and hatched 

 them and placed the fry in a small pond, where they fed. 

 but did not grow fast, partly on account of the small size 

 of the pond (four by eight feet, by two feet deep), and partly 

 because thev were not, fed regularly during our frequent 

 absence. Repeated calls away on business interfered with 

 our fishctilture greatly, the last year of our stay there, and in 

 the spring of 1876 we were called to Philadelphia for the 

 summer, and left the place entirely. On disposing of the fish 

 in the ponds the young salmon were turned into the stream 

 ft small brook emptying into Honeoye Creek, a tributary of 

 the Genesee River, the supposition being that they would 

 work down over the Genesee Falls and so into Lake 



