428 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[DEO. 8! 



of the city wasconsi 3 in bringing in tho game and sus- 

 pending it iu the open air. 



Sept. 9, — A similar mot-nine, to the two preceding. This 

 being the last da] e tb ind I baring as yet been 



■ sful, I " was rcsolvi i ke extra exertions, 



which were crowijed i n along with others, Tfty 



■ I i b '■■ ad as it v. a;-, a barren 



■ I was excused from the penalty oi being suspended 

 from the uext day's hunt and nay gun given to the camp 



keeper in limit v ■. ; ii ■■! . ■■ whilel should ke 



In, addition to the fet doe, two Dthers, one a large buck, 

 ami the other a yearling with spike hornsj were ■ 

 camp. 



Mi.iiiim , i ■ eleventh, aid nrj [s I day on the hunt. I 



i ng become tired of the mouutaius. and' resolved to re- 

 turn to Del \.in< ris Wagonwheel Gap after the day's 

 hunt was -Over. Finding i1 too late to get through, how- 

 ever, I waited till the twelfth, Throe of the parties were in 

 luck, killing each one deer or one hud buck, and two year- 

 lings, uiakiikj-, all told, twelve deer on the hunt 

 ously relat«ain this narrative. These twelve, ad< 

 eight killed in the previous hunt, tally even twenty in the 

 two hunts, and one bear. The balance of the company have 

 remained in the mountains upto the presenl writing, orat 

 WagonWheel Gap, and T learn from parties who came in s 

 few days ago thai lhe\ an ■ I ;fin fishing hi the Upper 

 Bin Grande. H. T. 



DEER IN PIKE COUNTY. 



TI1K never-fairing instincl of the deer warns it of the ap- 

 proach of snowstorms, and ir forsakes its feeding- 

 fllaces Oil the high ridges and seeks the shelter of the dense 

 aurel and tamarack swamps. After the storm is over, un- 

 less the BUOW has fallen In ti.o great a depth, the fleer iip- 

 paars on the ridges again, and roams tit large until forced by 



- eding storms to find protection again in tlft wi e. 



The storm of thfe week has left nearly two feel of snow in 

 i he woods, and has undoubtedly closed the deer-huntine 

 season for this year, as no deer can leave the swamps, ami it 

 is practically impossible to hunt them in the treacherous 

 fastnesses which protect them, although plenty of hunters 

 stand ready to take every advantage of the game and dog 

 it to death by fair means or foul. The deer leave not been 

 driven to the swanp so early in the season for twenty-five 

 years, and the sudden closing in of winter with so heavy a 

 Storm has awakeued many apprehensions in the minds of 

 sportsmen as to the fare of their favorite game, The fall of 

 1888 lias been one of unusual drouth in this region. The 



streams are unprecedehteclly low and the sv ps an at trri f 



dry. Winters of deep snow arc always more or less destruc- 

 tive to deer, but when they are "attended also by lack 

 of water the fatality is greatly increased. Legitimate 

 sportsmen alsodreadthc possible formation of •crust" on the 

 -now, which when of sufficient thickness gives pot hunters 



I tnosl efficient Opportunity to ply their trade. Then 



in ■ mi put their doa> in the swamps', the crust enabling 

 then, to make their way to all parts of it. Stationed at the 



points on i h. ,.-.ir-,.,,i i . yampswhere the deer find entrance 

 and egress, and which are as well known to the hunters as 

 they are to the deer, these despoilers of the woods make easy 



prey of the game as it is driven from ttic swamps by the 

 flogs. Large numbers of deer ate slaughtered in this way. 

 In dry winters deer are frequently forced to leave their 

 haunts among the laurels and tamaracks to see] , 



issaidthat '.signs" of the presence of this animal in tin- 

 Pike county woods were uever so plenty as they were this 

 year. If -uch really is the ease, the unexpected closing of 

 | m by the elements will have the effect of enhancing 



i ! i , ■ , bunting when they some out in the spring, 

 i thai season; however, is not of the kind that 

 should attract legitimate sportsmen, for then the animals are 

 not iu condition either in for or meat, and the cares of families 

 of cubs devolve on the females. But it seems to be an un- 

 written law with hunters Hun if is proper to kill a bear at 

 any and all seasons, and at any age, and the shaggy brutes 

 ti ml no mercy at the hands of hunters in this locality,— 

 i pondem ' 



the creeks or on the edges of 



these mounts 



ami the fate 



some is settle 



dog, borne u 



weight enables it only to make 



ny lakes that abound ii 



1 1 i'l >.'. ays on the alert 



have thus made it ventur- 



ien is on ks trail'. His 



ivertftkes the deer, whose 



way slowly and cat fully 



over the frozen snow. It has not. even the chance its speed 



(I to escape, audit is powerless to defend' itself. 



Held -it bay by the dogs, the deer is soon put to death when 



thernerciless i up, which he knows he nil float 



his leisure. To \ -.- r\ the monotony of the chase he not in- 

 frequently beats tin deerto death by blows on its head 

 with a heavy cud-el. These wretches, like death, have all 

 seasons for their ovv h, and the game laws carry no fear 

 to them. It is tin open secret iu the Shohola region that one 

 winter one family of these pot-hunters killed twenty-seven 

 deer on the crust after the legal hunting season had 'closed. 

 Yet there is not a county in the State which is so well pro- 

 vided wilh protective game. laws, for, besides the very strict 

 State-law, Pike county has a special law whose provisions 

 against unseasonable anduns|)ortsin;'ulike hunting and fishing 

 are still more stringent. 



Taking into consideration all that game in Pike county 



has to contend against, it ia siurplj . ■■■ I, , w it. maiii 



tains an existence in. the region at. so large, and even an 

 average— especially large game. OM hunters say that they 

 are not able to see any great decrease iu the number of 

 deer in the county for" twenty -five years. Tlie.i may be 

 scarcer one year in a certain locality than they were the 

 previous year, but they will be found more plenty in some 

 other Ideality than they v. ere the year before. Such has 

 been the ease this season. Hunters' iu the Blooming ( Hive 

 ■ . lb I ■ ■ ."■■ iti i - if the Shohohi Creek have 



not found thoir usual tine spott, v\ hile on the lower Shohola 

 and through the Patip l count py deer have been plentier 

 than for several ven two famous Blooming 



Grove sportsmen, Capt (Jape Westbrook and his brother, 

 John C. , were out hut three days I , ' in the woods 

 near here and brought in four large deer. Two of the big- 

 trest bucks ever brought don n in the county were killed six 

 inilcs from here One Ijii last weel ' : lie Lai I n 



■ '. i mil' i 'M ii . M t part D Si I MM-.idered the 



best of the season in Ihe Bloom,,, . ., , region, BO the 

 coming of the heavy snow has put an a hi -port here 



before it had t'airl -, ■ n ' , i |,j\ not more than twenty 

 deer lava; been killed between here and ihe Monroe county 

 i] hi. SO the local 1: 



MicniOAN SrouTsMio^'sjAssociATiojN. - The eighth annual 



meeting of the Michigan Sportsmen'- Association will be 



move important than the interesting onee held heretofore. 

 Numerous papers will be read on various subjects, and our 



esteemed president writes me that -'the occasion will be made 

 interesting by the presentation of several papers by ladv 

 sport mien" ' Tiic report of our Missionary-Warden TBgby 

 will be worth the "price of admission" alone, and measures 

 should lie taken to continue him in office. Some changes 

 will probably be required in the existing laws, and as the 

 Legislature will convene with this new year, it, will be neces- 

 sary that our association fie ably represented by committee 

 in Lansing. I understand there are already several bills 

 drafted to amend the game laws by persons not acting with 

 us: which, if passed by IheLegislaiure. might be antagonistic 

 to the general good of the people of our St ate. It is our duty 

 to guard these matters closely. 1 would say right here that the 

 members, of this association could do a great dcalof good by 

 personally seeing the members of the Legislature from their 

 own districts, and fully explaining the objects of our labors 

 and post them up on all points.— vVm. R. Mi-nisnois. Secre- 

 tary. 



Weight of Game Brnos. — Boston. Dec. 31. I recently 



shot in Rhode Island twenty-two quail, which weighed ex- 

 actly illbs.; ii} ounces each. Is not this a largi aver , 

 What is the average weight of our game birds in their best 

 season':— S. S. [It is difficult to give a categorical answer to 

 your question. Your quail were slightly above the average, 

 we think. Knifed grouse will weigh from IS to SO 07,. ; quail 

 ahum ti; woodcock about ■),!: English snipe usually not more 

 than 4. We have killed birds 'much heavier than these 

 weights, hut think they arc about the average.] 



Bast Millon. Mass.. Nov. 88, 1983.— George Elcock, of 

 West Qttiney. shot a cock ruled .grouse here last week which 

 weighed 3 lf>s. Is not this an unusual heavy bird? There 

 is on exhibition at. Win. Schacffer's gun store. Boston, an 

 albino quail, being oue of two that was secured itt :> Bock 

 near Marshfleld, Mass., the bird is pure white with black 

 eyes.— ,1. G, Smith. [We should like to see ihe papers for 

 that grouse.] 



Illinois,. — Charleston. Dec. 12.— Capt. A N. Bain, guide 

 .7. W. Shaffer, cook K. Young, pilot Thus. Threlkeld. forager 

 Thou.;,.- Knock. William Chilton and James Skidmorc. re- 

 turned home from Arkansas, where they have been hunting 

 for tWO weeks. Their game bag contained t\\ deer, several 

 lUl'keys. several dozen mallard ducks and other small game. 

 I'm i m m led deer, turkey and bear lolerable plenty, ducks 

 and'squirrcls by the hundreds, raffed grouse and quail in 

 fair numbers, and other game too numerous to mention. — 



FOX Sqt IRREL. 



ha and jMvw 



THE LYMAN SIBHT.— When aiming, 



tttti "i ., ri,,r .,r In, o],. v,-liir-h shows the 

 aimed at, ,-, [thont intercepting any part t 



Cbt No. 8. 

 , besMefethe great iiiiheiihy of quickly getting the trout sight h 





line since th. 



■ i ■ . . failure ssa promoter of sport he 



about, and the, an- taking th opportunity to compare, the 



: ... - om m. hi i dl er was so plenty that it 



was no trick at all for ;i man to ,"0 out and atari one within 



I o ■ tramp of the Blooming Grove tavern -. 



i li-n coming of the hi ttvy snow has also killed the 

 hone oft! , : , rippers, who, from all indi- 



i- ii" mm. Miinilfs irreaf sport with the favorite 



game fieiur. thi f •winter forced it to its e 



sleep of tl Very few bear- will be 



found venturing away from tl>ch homer, now, and the bear 



■ ■ ■ ii • ■ ■ . .. i , 1 1 ■ ut. i lair.-i do/.eii mem 



., I M, -I I I M,. I M , , . IM.IIMMli ,,H lllM ,,,0101 



i ,i, ilii- vicinity this fall, all in fine conditio I ■ i to 



m iOl | ., v , .| , M, 



sight 



For i 





lUj person sending i.ln-ii- a, lilies.- t,, R. H. t'ooler, H, r ' 



I..,, bl. irill fee Ere( a : ilori i itj e pep] 



■i oosi i ■ m ■M' 'mi iso a 'Mm, 



M cartridge holder l 



n kiii.le ut hunting by water, bee it with uets, wheels, 

 butts, angiing or otherwise, and yeelils all out as much pli a 

 some meu u dogs or hawfces; when they drtau their fish upon thi 

 banhe, eaith Nio, Seneelius SUesloyntjii ,, ; .|..-,.khig of that 



ing of pools. .'..,..', ;...,.. m -,., ,!,■ , 5 | ,, ., 



telleth how travelling by the nigtwa; . he fouiai 



a nobleman, 6 ted iiji to tlu groiae*, wading himseU 



the. nets, and labouring as much as any fisherman oi them all; and 

 when some belike objected to him the bason esse of his office, he ei- 

 cuscd himself , thatif other meu might hunt hurts, why >■/■■ . 

 .'',. '. I ,, I carpet? Many gentlemen in like sort with us, wfll wade np 



■: ii,,. ;,, In, Irs, on sneli uecaaionSj and voluntarily undertuke that. 



In satislle their [ileasinv, which a poore man tor a good stipend 

 would scarce be hired to umlergoe. 

 ■•Phiturrh. in Ins book ih - mil: r. A'liui.il. speakes against allhsh- 



hie,asafiith,, e.....'. illibemU iini>t"!l»t< nl, hm-hifi nf.illit-i- .'/' 



it teo/tk the labour, Hat he that shall consider 



the variety oi Baits, for ail seasons, and jvretty devices which our 

 (Wglefs have invented, peculiar lines, false iies, several sleights. 

 eta., will say. that it deserves like commendation, reqiures as much 

 study, and perspionoiiie. as the r./st, and iu to be preferred before 



much riding and many dangers accompany them: hut this is still 

 and quiet; and if so bee the Angler catch no Fish, yet be hatha 

 wholesome walketo the Brooke-side, pl.-u sunt shade, by ■ 

 sihi-i- streames; he hath good aire, And sweet smete of fine fresh 

 meadow flowers, lu-e heares the melodious harmony of Bir Is, . ■ lees 

 the Swannes. herons, ducks, water-hens, eoores. eft., and mcuiy 

 other fowle, with their brood, which bee thinketh better than the 

 noiseof hounds, or blast of bo, nes and >ll I he sport that, they can 

 make."--.4«a/om,i/ (Tin' , nf Met <t, idiot,, . I'.n Democritus Junior; IIK1, 

 •(Part II., sect, ii.), 



Iu a former passage (part i.. sect. 8) In's inferences are less compli- 

 mentary to the sport: 'Tor example, if melancholy proceed from 

 fleagme (which is seldome and not so treojJSnt as the rest) it stirres 

 up dull s.yniptornes, and a kinde of stupiditie, or impassionate tua-t. 

 They are sleepy, snlth Saxionarolu, dull, slow, cold, blackish, asse 



Ilka, I ;n;in>m .Vilu,irl:oliam, Melanctlum cajlsjtj they c 



,., .;.,,,,.,,, ai/, ti.ttl li-liijiit in i roll ■rs, iiiinil:,, pool CftieW ft ( 



(III/, J'oirUnil, .-(■'." 



WINTER TALKS ON SUMMER PASTIMES. 



VII. — ABOUT SALMON 1-TslrtNO. 



All things by experience 

 Are most improved; then sedulously thin',: 

 To 'meliorate thy si ocl; ; uo way or rule 

 IV una.ssay'i.l. —.John Ph-tttips 



XA3I oiteu questioned in regard lo the mode of procuring 

 permits to fish in salmon rivers. This question was easily 

 answered until a recent decision was rendered by the Do- 

 minion Courts, affirming the riparian rights of the Owners of 

 lands along the rivers. Ip to that time the control of all 

 salmon waters, as well above as below the flow of the tide, 

 was in the Dominion government: and the right to ft.sh with 

 either seine or rod could only be obtained from the BshBrj 

 Officials. But now it is different. Permits or leases can 

 only be obtained from the OWDerSof the lands, whethersnch 

 ownership is in individuals or in the government. Imine 

 diatelj (his deci toi was rendered, gentlemen who were 

 promptly posted either took up the unentered government 

 lands commanding desirable pools, or secured leases from 

 the owners whose riparian rights had been recognized and 

 affirmed by the courts. So that now it is quite impossible 

 to say how or from whom either permits or leas Mm v 

 procured, unless one knows who own- the lands bor- 

 dering on the rivers. For instance, the entire river I fished 

 for years had been leased from the government by parlies 

 from whom 1 purchased a permit. Now the same river is in 

 the hands of several parties, either by the purchase pj Hi 

 lands or by leases secured from the individual riparian 

 owners. In regard to that river, therefore, and all rivers 

 similarly cut, up. the only way to secure the righi to Ball Lo 

 them is 'to ascertain their present own, <■■ ,r -s. ; ,nil oh 



tain from them the permission desired. The lands on 

 the river 1 have rished more recently, are owned Or 

 controlled by individuals who bad, until this recent 

 decision, secured their fishing rights from the govern 

 ment. The decision, therefore, does not affect, them ; so 

 that my old arrangement holds good, and will hold good 

 until the present owners transfer their riparian rights to 

 other parties 



I presume there arc several rivers still entirely under the 

 control of the government. If so, if they are. not already 

 leased for a term of years not yet completed, they will be 

 advertised for rent to the highest bidder. The i,--i: m 

 only be ascertained by corresponding with the Commissioner 

 of Fisheries at Ottawa. 



It is generally believed that this decision will lead to the 

 early depletion of the now prolific rivers affected by it. The. 

 indtVidual owners, even where they lease their pools, will pot 

 be as likely to refrain from fishing them with cither rod, 

 spear or net as when they were restrained by non-ownershiti or 

 through fear of the penalties of the old comprehensive and 

 rigorously enforced laws. The government will, erf course, 

 withdraw its guardianship front rivers from which it derives 

 norevemie. To be sure, the individual ownei oi i sees 

 can appoint guardians, but it Isvery questionable whether 

 such appointee*- ., i.ii- ,. . ,;! r,r a- efficient . . » 

 who held an official commission. The loyal residentson and 

 in the vicinity of the rivers have a profound respect for the 

 authority of the Queen, even whim that authority is repre 

 sented by one of" their own neighbors, but thej have no - 

 more respect fur iuoividnai nidus, when those rights are 

 simply guar,!.',: i, those ha tS| to offiei i borily, thfin 

 our own free ami iudepti dec, i,j i 



Bui I may bo mistuken in regard to the effeel of this 

 change in the fishery laws of lite Dominion. 1 eeil.-iiolv 

 hopeso: foril would' be a great misfortune, uoi to ihe Prov 

 inees alone, uor yd siuqily to tliose who : light in Ihe 



mri i: .I a p or t of angling, but, to all consumers of this kingly 

 -,, '"•-,,, .,,.,,,, ,. ; , ,,! mi ii j„ ,,laiued, the salmou ca.'fcii 

 i,m ■ liminishedi ithin. the past few years, It would 



..'. mmI:, miiy if this new policy should resuK tl 



indiscriminate slaughter of the wlioli i mon :nmily while 

 on (heir journey Lo and fri i i is pnins beds al tin 



sources of the rivers to which iln.-y r, son to hieed ftnd mul- 

 tiply I most sineerelv hope tliat those who believe no harm 

 Will i*adt front this change of policy arc right. But I think 

 otherwise, and believe my feats will be tJOufirmed by a few 

 years' espi-iM ai 



This decision it is proper in -ay. only affects ihe waters 



