802 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ma>-. 25 1883. 



VBW YORK GAME LAWS. 



r pHERE was introduced into the New York Assembly, by 

 -*■ Mr. Townsend, January 15, it bill (No. 8) amendatory 

 of the Game Laws 61 the State. The hill, which we under- 

 stand is fathered by a number of the most, important, and 

 faithfully working protective Hubs in 'Central Sew York, 

 lias very many excellent features, We turn to a considera- 

 tion of its provisions, commenting on them as we proceed. 



Section l, of Chapter 584 of the laws or 1879 is amended 

 so as to forbid the killing of chasing of deer, tin- possession 

 of "any jack or oilier device used in Moating," the sale of 

 deer or fresh venison, and the use of dogs, excepting only 

 during the mouths of September and October. This is cer- 

 tainly a good law for the deer, and will, if enforced, be of 

 great benefit in the way of protecting them. It will be un- 

 welcome to the still-hunters and to those who like to kill 

 the Weak and feverish deer of July; but, as we have said 

 before, if our game is to be protected, everj class of hunters 

 should be willing to make sonic sacrifice for the general 

 good. 



Section -1 of the same cliupu-r iorhids the shooting Of 

 fowl, plover and bay birds between the first of April and the 

 first of September, except in the waters of Long Island. 

 whore none snail he killed bet ween April 1 and October 1. 

 This change is also to be commended as a Step in the right 

 direction, but is open to objection in one or two respects. 

 We should be glad to see the words 'Wilson's, commonly 

 called English, snipe" interpolated in this section, since I he 

 bird is not anywhere mentioned by uame, and is quite as 

 much entitled to protection as any other that flies'. Tins 

 section, however, will receive the severe criticism of those 

 who enjoy bay bird Khootlug. Ordinarily the lirst. flight of 

 bay birds lakes place late in July, and, although it is usually 

 unimportant, there arc still many who count upon it. For 

 the benefit ol the beach bird shooters, however, the open 

 season for birds of this group should begin August 1. The 

 section should read Something like this: 



No person shall kill or expose for sale, or have in posses 

 sion after the same has been killed, any wild duck, goose, 

 brant or coot, in any of the waters of this State between the 

 first day of March and first day of September, except in the 

 waters of Long Island, upon which waters none of said 

 birds may be killed between the lirst day of March and the 

 first day ot October, etc., etc., and no person shall kill or 

 espOSC for sale, etc,, OtC, any Wilson's snipe, commonly 

 called English snipe, or any plover, or rail, commonly called 

 muiihen, or gallinule, commonly called water chicken, or 

 any bay or shore birds between the first day of March ami 

 the first day of August, etc.. etc. 



Seel ion !i is amended io forbid the killing of WOOOCOftk 

 and gray or black squirrels, except during the months of 

 September. October and November, A most excellent and 

 wise provision. 



Section 10 is aim aided SO as to forbid the killing ol rutted 

 and pinnated -rouse, except during the mouths of Seplcm 

 her. October and November. Tltitt Is also a wise amend- 

 ment, and one which will present in many localities the 

 killing off of all the "sued" partridges. 



Seotipn 11 forbids the netting or trapping, pr having in 

 possession after they base been netted or (rapped within the 

 State, any wild pigeon, grouse (of any kind) or quail. Also 

 an excellent change, and one which may remedy present 



abuses. 



Section It) as amended by Section i\ of Chapter .'1.H4, laws 

 L880, is altered so as to forbid the killing of robins, meadow 

 larks or sterlings, except during September, October and 

 November, 



Section W Is amended 50 a- to forbid the killing ot small 

 birds by any one who doc.-, not possess a license from some 

 responsible natural history society. Not more than live 

 specimens of a kind can be taken within any one year. A 

 similar provision we advocated last year to protect the small 

 birds from the taxidermist and milliner. 



Section 15 is amended to forbid the use of "trap or snare, 

 0] net or birdlime, '"or poisoned food against protected game, 

 or the possession of birds' eggs, except under the restrictions 

 of Section 14. 



Section 18 is to be amended so as to forbid the taking of 

 trout except by angling, or the taking, at anytime, of (rout, 

 salmon or land-locked salmon through the ice, except in 

 waters wholly private. 



Section 19 will forbid Ibe taking of auyJCaliforuia trout, 

 brook trout, or salmon trout or land-locked salmon less 

 than five incites in length or the selling of smaller. It also for 

 bids the taking of any of these Ralmouidin from the State 

 waters, for the purpose of stocking a publico!' private pond 

 It should, however, be lawful to do this during the open 

 season. That is, if it is legal to take them to kill, it should 

 also be permitted to capture them to keep alive. The re- 

 maining amendments, so far as they concern the fish, con- 

 sist chiefly of special provisions with regard to different 

 localities, ljul Section 28 forbids in general the use of nets 

 and other devices, not hook and line, for taking any fish, 

 and persons finding such nets or other devices are author- 

 ized to destroy (hem. 



To Section 81, fixing the bounty on wolves, panthers, etc., 

 is added a clause offering a bounty of fifty cents for hawks 

 and owls. An excellent provision. 



Section 84 of the existing law is by this law repealed and 

 it provision substituted obliging auy one to give testimony 



as to the commission of offenses under (bis act. even if it 

 incriminates him or her, but, providing that, such evidence 

 shall not be used against him or her in any civil or criminal 

 proceeding. 



Section 8(1 is amended so as to permit the selling of hares 

 and rabbits during the month of February, of woodcock, 

 ruffed grouse, pinnaled grouse and black and gray squirrels 

 during the month of December, and of fresh venison during 

 the month of November, provided the seller proves that, the 

 game was killed during the open season . and also provided that 

 he tiles with the nearest State, game protector an inventory 

 and report of all the game so bad in possession or for sale, 

 slating the species and number thereof, together with the 

 proof that it was lawfully taken. 



Section If, which in the existing law is the enacting clause 

 forbids catching of fish by shutting off or drawing off the 

 Water in which they Mve. 



As will be seen from the above quotations and remarks. 

 Assembly bill No. 8 contains a number of most excellent 

 provisions, which deserve the hearty approval and 

 support of the sportsmen of this State. The gentlemen who 

 drew it have endeavored to put their amendments in such form 

 that, they will excite as little opposition impossible, and have 

 asked for what they think that (hey can get rather than for 

 all that they want, if it. should become a law. if cannot fail 

 to do a great deal of good, providing, always, that it can be 



enforced. 



The subject ol additional game protectors is one that 

 must receive altcnlion. Long Island and the New York 

 markets are now left to lake care of themselves, instead of 

 being closely watched, as they should be. We eaunol too 

 strongly Impress upon our readers that the best way Io pre 

 vent the illegal killing of game is to prevent its illegal sale. 

 When this is done, the battle is more than half won 



777/'/ LOSS OF I'lIF HTEAMHEOP < IMIllilA. 



AS usual after a disaster, tinkers and quacks (urn up by 

 the score with till manner of advice as to the necessity 

 of still further complicating I he "Rule of the Koad" at sea 

 with Intricate signaling devices. In the desire io be fore- 

 most in pressing tt cure for accidents which must forever 

 remain possible while Ibe high seas are threaded by (he vast 

 fleet of large ami fasi steamers modern eivili/.ation has called 

 into being, the real issue is lost sight of completely. The 

 "Rule of the Road" is (lie outcome Of long experience It is 

 explicit, and plain and calls for no surplusage ol detail, which 

 would simply serve to bewilder and increase the chances ol 

 misunderstanding and mistake in the few seconds which gen- 

 erally bring about the crisis. The rules are not at fault, aoci 

 dents are due, not in consequence of then observance, lint can 

 invariably be traced to a failure Io comply with their precise, 

 but .ample directions, No mutter what the system of sig. 

 naliug or commiiiiieniing intentions may be, some people 

 w ill be stupid, others will be ieckli>s, some become con 

 fused; and often ha- it been noted thai no two will exactly 



agree as to the aouri f sound, the color of a light, the 



period ol a Hash or the distance at which an object is dis 

 cerned. Physiologists are well aware of the deception prac- 

 ticed upon our souses Inmomentsof excitement or intense 

 expectation, and the unreliable service they render us in 

 critical periods. 11 may be taken for granted that accidents, 

 especially collisions in it fog, arc destined to occur in spite 

 of all precautions adopted or yet suggested. 



The gist of the problem is then not so much how to pre- 

 vent collisions at sea, for that has been provided in the 

 rules established, but, how to prevent the wholesale loss of 



fife alter the catastrophe which sends the vessel to the bot- 

 tom in a few momenta. 



Steamship companies have tenaciously clung Io the use of 

 so-called lifeboats which have time and lime again bee 

 proven ne\l to useless lor the saving of life. They have ex- 

 hibited a stubborn conservatism which is beyond our under. 

 slnnding. Only under the most favorable circumstances. 

 with smooth sea. disciplined crew, brave officers, and above 

 all, ample time, can a sleamship's boats be relied on to save 

 (he majority of passengers and crew. Such a combination of 

 favorable conditions does not occur once in fen times. This 

 is well enough known to every seaman, and yet steamship 

 companies provide, for an isolated case and lake most, des- 

 perate chances in all the nine remaining, idly deluding them- 

 selves with the belief they have done all that ingenuity can pos- 

 sibly devise for the safety of the lives committed to their care, 

 when the most casual or superficial consideration of the 

 chances must reveal on the spot to the most, ordinary intelli- 

 gence the perfect absurdity of ' trusting to boats to escape 

 from a rapidly sinking vessel. Impracticable to launch, 

 filled to swamping, smashed like egg shells against the ves- 

 sel's sides, and capsizing with their topheavy loads, it has 

 always been to us inexplicable that experienced men and 

 the law could place reliance in what are so obviously faulty 

 in conception and wretched shams in practice. 



The saving of life through effective, measures is a ques- 

 tion so simple and so elementary that it is disgraceful to 

 the age to send steamships to sea without adequate provis- 

 ion, infallible in its working. 



All steamers have more or less deck houses and super- 

 structure. Carry iron beams across these, turned down to 

 the rail, much like the framing of a light hurricane deck. 

 On top of these lay large rafts, Hat, and wide, and uncap- 

 aizable, Construct them with a number of hulls, subdi- 



vided in compartments to prevent destruction if pierced by 

 a falling spar or wreckage. Let one of these be placed 

 ovm' the quarter deck, another amidships and a third for- 

 ward. Let them be two-thirds the width of the steamer's 

 deck, and some, fifty to Seventy-five feel, long each. Have 

 broad ladders and other means of easy access, so that a 

 multitude can be driven up like sheep; step a light rail or 

 reeve a life, line about the whole, and provide suitable means 

 for instantaneous detaching. Keep provisions imper- 

 vious to air and water, and spirits aud signals in cans, 

 bags, or other suitable receptacles. Sails, oars, med- 

 icine chest, etc., can find ready lodgment in the 

 structure. The whole will cost no more than the worthless 

 boats, will be light in weight, out of the way, and can be 

 utilized ih many respects in the economy of every -day life 

 on board. Detail cool men to the necessary stations. Now 

 let the vessel be struck and sinking threatened. Drive the 

 passengers aboard Hie raffs, and as the vessel takes her last 

 reel before disappearing, detach, and the raft with her 

 precious burden floats clear. It will support; all who can find 

 room to stand, and the whole question of rescue is then re- 

 duced down to surviving the exposure necessarily entailed by 

 the disaster. Gear likely to foul should of course lie cut 

 away while there is time. Elaborate the idea as you wish, and 

 the worst of extremities would leave open a very good 

 chance for life for those now ruthlessly sacrificed to crude, 

 clumsy and impracticable contrivances left us from the Mid 

 die Ages. There is nothing new in these suggestions. All 

 the more reason why the law should step in to arouse 

 steamship companies from their lethargy, and force 

 the adoption of plans at once simple and effectively answer 

 ing the needs of the case. 



xoy- 1 m E, i Sfnm° rifi. f ma tches. 



TT is very likely that one of the near changes in the shoot 

 A ing rules at, f'reedmoor will be one making non-clean 

 ing. except between ranges, compulsory. The British 

 National Rifle Association have adopted Such a tuleand 

 there is much to be said in Its-favor. There certainly is noth- 

 iug'more artificial than the style of shooting by which the 

 Palma matches were tired. There was an accurate reduc- 

 tion of the conditions tinder which each shot was fired to 

 the same level ami thus followed 1 be long strings of bulls- 

 ryes, to which we have become accustomed. It was thought 

 impossible to have entire accuracy, unless every minor point 

 was duly looked after; and doubtless this was true; but 

 (here is no reason to think that with changed arrangements 

 of rifle and ammunition good scores would not result, even 

 under the non-cleaning rule. If such a result follows, then 

 a .great advance will have been scored; lor certainly there 

 is far more value in the conclusions reached in a, non-clean- 

 ing mulch than in any of the old style small-bore contests. 

 Tbo-e trials seem to have brought out about all the points 

 they were capable of developing. They were of great value 

 In pointing the way to something better. It is a more 

 natural step to first try rifles and bullets and powder under 

 the simpler conditions of a clean barrel at, each shot than 

 to strive for accuracy with the impediment of a, dirty banc]. 



One of the first effects of these non-cleaning conditions 

 will be to direct attention to the explosive used. Low grade 

 powders leave a heavy but soft residuum in the barrel, while 

 the quick burning compounds, high priced and carefully 

 made, do not leave so much, but they are more inclined to 

 cake hard. Weather, too, has a very marked influence in 

 this connection, and this makes it, necessary to take with 

 some allowance reports of work done by new guns in this 

 cold weather, when judging what they will be able to 

 accomplish on a hot, parched range in midsummer. In 

 modifying the charge to secure good results with the debris 

 of One round lying in the way of the next, it is more thau 

 likely that the whole question of explosives may be so over 

 hauled Ihnt a revolution in ammunition will be brought 

 about. There are hints of such a coming change, and in 

 tying to reduce the evils of our present powder system 

 a minimum it is not at all unlikely that some new ex- 

 plosive may find its way to the front. 



There needs more careful estimates of the relation between 

 powder charges and the work they do. Where a 550-grain 

 bullet has put behind it charges of powder running all the 

 way from 80 to 110 grains, it is manifest that the bullet starts 

 on its way under various conditions as regards upsetting and 

 initial velocity. What those conditions are for various charges 

 aud for differing degrees of hardness of bullet is purely 

 a matter of the most arbitrary conjecture on the part of the 

 majority, if not all, who go to our ranges to shoot. It is 

 certain that if all the powder is burned in each case the 

 force is very different, and if it be not burned then it is just 

 so much foreign and worse than useless matter, cumber 

 ing the cartridge shell and then the rifle barrel. 



So long as cleaning out after each shot was permitted. 

 these were trifling considerations. We could afford to be 

 wasteful when that waste did not act as a direct clogon our 

 efforts for good scores, but it will not pay to use extra large 

 powder charges, when the surplus in each charge means a 

 point off the record of the next shot. 



It, maybe a question open for fair debate whether it is 

 ■wise for our National Rifle Association to make a cast-iron 

 rule on the subject of dirty matches. It is worthy of a fair 

 trial, and for certain classes of matches open only to mili- 

 tary men, and to be shot with military rifle, the rule -ought 



