Jah, 35, 1883,3 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



507 



-8,7$-. A fuck from another bevey scaled 8 oz. ; 5 to oz. 

 heaviest weiglll of the average birds. 



The ducks dropped iu passing, apparently in railroad style 

 -tw.-i,!v- minutes for dinner. I saw very few rabbits, But 

 u\,. ..i ■ i'Iii-.-. ■.],■,!■ i, : .\,- i),-,-i) killed. Have heard of but little 

 Imniiiiu- ordarge game. Bear signs plentiful in the moun. 

 Cains, bul the bear hunter- have' died or grown so old thai 

 dogs arc no longer trained for .the cbaso in oui county. 1 

 tbinb our close season tor game begins Feb.l, instead of 

 M:n- -li. as per lisl published by Fokest uro Strbam, if I am 

 noi mixed. Ki.sn i m ar. 



Mill Sprikssi Kv.. Jan. 15, 1882. 



, In 



fation 



GUINEA 



Vorii articli 



1 aid thee 

 bilitv of the gu 

 est to me, I ba 

 worthy of ii trial, and that 

 ful, i a in give you my reas< 



About thirty years ago— 1 am i 

 over it friend's farm in New Jerw 

 man, who told in', that one of tl. 



FOWL AS GAME BIRDS. 



n ih, last number, of Fobest asd Stukwi 

 kindle," on theadapta- 

 rd, were of great inter- 

 ion thftl Iliev were well 



' Held 



■h atria] i 



•ess- 



ii? well as spring Kited moose to dry and press, and take 



n as the lake- and rivers opened. He also 



found thai the twelve had killed an average of fiftylmonse 

 to a nnm. or about .six hundred moose in a}] These Indians 

 lived entirely on moose meat, and took all the. dried moat 

 ihey could to their families when fhey went home, leaving 

 the rest to rol in Mi" woods. 



"After this the St. John Indiana and the French and 

 Yunkee hunters from ;dl directions followed in theb foot- 

 sie]).-, and iii about three years it was of no use to go 

 there any more lor moo 



"Soinossk, what becomes of all the moose! Why, 'the 

 wolves' L"i ih. in. if course. There has been no much laid 

 on the backs of the poor wolves thnl I don't exped to live 

 long enough to see one in Penobscot - 



The -lory of the twelve Indians 

 moose in one winter suggests ihe que: 

 Of the number were killed with Ihe li 



hundred 

 . portion 

 . mot cross-bow.) 

 Kvkiikit Smith. 



die 



- for thinking bo. 

 no chicken -while shooting 

 all. I mi t Ins fore- 

 aea-s had stolen her 

 nest and raised a large brood of chicks, which he could not 

 get back to the farmyard. Such being the ease, he suggested 

 that I should shoOl as many of them as 1 could. I UlOttglll 

 nothing of litis at the time; but onedav, on the same farm, 

 while beating along a large buckwheat stubble for quail, 

 wiih my two dogs a setter and a pointer, we came to some 

 inuL.ii pieee • of grass ai ih(- lop of ihe field, adjoining a 

 heavy pioce of woodland. The setter made a full point. 

 backed at some distance by the pointer — a sight, which al- 

 ways gladdens ihe heart of a sportsman; I stepped up to 

 the pointer, expecting to flushabevy of quail. Nothing 

 ■aimed. I advanced to the setter, when up went a guinea 

 fowl. I I bought of old Harry's guineas, and turned the 

 bird over at about twenty yards, Ai ihe report. of. my giro 

 a full dozen more arose ami made straight for the cover. I 

 killed a second bird, and when these were recovered I fol- 

 lowed iheiii up and killed Ave more, all over points. 1 

 c.uld have killed more of them if 1 had wished to do so. 

 Subsequently 1 Hied them again, and the} gave me. as good 

 sport as any game birds I had ever shot. They lay well to 

 the dogs. 'Sometimes 1 had a quail in the "grass as well as 

 in the woodland One hiid. I rcnu imbi r. my pointer found 

 in the open stubble, and although 1 walked "close up to the 

 dog. 1 did noi see the bird uulil it rose. 



i hive thought of this occurrence many times, and have 

 mentioned it to some of my sporting friends. 1 have no 

 doubt that these birds would prove a valuable acquisition to 

 our game birds. - 



If ihe gentlemen win, tiaVe spent so much time and money 

 in introducing the useless little European quail, would turn 

 thetr attention in another direction,- and make the most of 

 lb. means w e have at our own doors to insure our supply of 

 game. 1 think th«y would receive a belter revs ard for their 

 liberal and unselfish efforts; or if they mu-i import game 

 birds, why not try Hie English partridge, a hardy bird and 

 one thai would lie more likely to prove a succes?? 



N vni'i. Winkle. 



•Ilrindie" writes a nice siory on guinea fowl in yours of 

 the llih. I have tried I he experiment to make game out. of 

 guineas; but it will not do. They are too domestic: an i 

 will not lie well to a dog. as Ihey run too much. With 

 spaniels it is somewhat heller, luii even then they make no 

 shooting. The writer has turned them loose in the Spring. 

 Thev never go further than a quarter of a mile from the 

 farm buddings. Unless looked alter iiiey will produce but 

 very few young, as vermin of all kinds prey upon the eggs 

 and' Chicles. In the fall ihey will come home to roost regu- 

 larly, and lie wiih the oilier barn fowl. According to my 

 idea, as far as the sport of <booi ing iheni is concerned, it is 

 none. One might as well have a dog run up a Hock of liens 

 and bang away al them. Better buy a few quail and put 

 ihcni out anil look alter them properly, Ciioxteth. 



S. \ i; : :-;NK Lodge, Guymar.l. N. V. 



A PORTABLE ICE-BOX. 



N September, 1881, 1 passed two days at Lazaretto rail 

 on the evening of the second 



son arrival 1 found thai those 

 re spoiled bv the heal. 

 taught in that way again. I had a 

 lie manner presently" to be described. 

 ; ain spent two days at Lazaretto, but 

 brought norue al) nry birds in good 



•ill 



condil 



The 

 Ion 



reaching ho 



examining my 



• box 



monev and CAB i return without a feather. T have often 

 had this ,\ : >e. I ":e myself. Even t.b • clubs thai own 

 thousands i i a of land complain of the increasing 

 scarcity of g inn . but to organize a club and enforce strict 

 by-laws in tea . to early morning and late evening 

 sliooting seenu w to be the only way to secure a few 

 ducks. . 



When every let of shooting land in the country is 

 gobbled up bye os, the pot-hunters who have done their 

 utmost to drive away game, and have shot, in season and 

 oui oi season, will find thai ihev are left out in the cold. 



0. B. 8. 



CALIFORNIA DOGS IN THE MANGER. 



rpHE shooting season in California is pretty well ad- 

 X vanced. [t opened on the 15th of September, and will 

 close on the loth of March. With the exception of deer 

 and doves, the open season for all kinds of game is embraced 

 by these dates. Owing to the mild character of California 

 winters, our sportsmen have better opportunities for indulg- 



MOOSE IN MAINE. 

 Editor Forest wnd Stream: 



I send ilic letter of a well-known hunter and guide to you 

 without comment. 



Maine is the natural home of Ihe moose, and deer of Ibis 

 species Were probably as abundant thirty years ago in the 

 region of which Mr. "Darling writes as anywhere on the con- 

 tinent. They are not yet extinct her.-, and arc undoubtedly 

 more common now than len years ago. Slid, Ihe tourist 

 need not keep oui of our woods for i car of being bitten by 



them. They are less commonly encountered than "moose 

 liies." A few are tilled here each year, but the tacts con- 

 cerning their capture are seldom made public Tf a good 

 "caller" could be obtained among our guides Ot Indian- 

 familiar with Northern Maine, one might go tor this great 

 game in autumn with a fair chance of success, such as can 

 be bad nowhere else in the United Slate-. Caribou and the 

 ir Virginia deer are also found in the same region. 



Of 111 



eclated by 



"Aboui 

 almost ih 



brother, w 



finished h 



M r. 



abundance Of 



Dai 



he: 







rile: 



ad al lb 



k In 



ick bat 



not stop until we 

 use. spending a little 



kit ar 



before 



din P< 



at .lot 



"W 

 did 

 inooi 



heard of moose being 

 {Elver, and llu: next v 

 qpurse ii was about tl 

 was deep and ihe beg 



•'W< 

 fortj i 



went up there lb 

 and killed sixty 

 there 1 went tin 

 of twelve Si V\ 

 them. They w 

 on moo . 



old i 



a good tale is 



.int. a great deal, and 

 nt mostly with my 

 prinir. after we had 

 n thissectio i the bead 



i •!•). go we flxed up a small 

 Id kill about three moose 

 went up as tar as Kaiab 

 untain, and stopped there 



id where there 



id got tin 



I made Of galvanized sheet iron, twelve inches 

 ■In is wide and eight inches deep, ll has two 

 longitudinal partitions of the same material, and the center 

 compartment is fitted with a small inside cover, the whole 



bOS being furnished with a COVCT, with hasp and staple for 

 a padlock. Near ihe bottom of the middle compartment 

 there is a hole to which a screw cap is filled. The con- 

 struction of the box will be readily understood by a glance 

 at the accompanying illustration. 



w ere moose, and 

 if killing fifteen 

 nver three weeks. While there we 

 y plenty at ihe head of Aroostook 

 lor We started for that region. OI 

 liddle of February when the snow 

 in- Of crusting. 



re.cn live and MX week-., and killed 

 m out. The following winter we 

 'February and built asmallcamp, 

 besides a nice lot. of furs. While 

 In Mausaugeo where [found a camp 

 Hans and stopped all bight with 

 ig moose tor their hides, and living 

 tea, steeped birch buds. We got 

 w.i\ of John (b.ddard's tow road. 

 .1 Portland). 



"After! eaiue home my brother made a trip 10 see those 

 Indian-, and found limn skinning out, having their Winter 



late 



odd 



The box was used as follows: Before going to the boat the 

 center compartment was filled .with ice, one of the others 

 with bottles of beer, and the other one wit* lunch and more 

 beer. These rail pushers require about one bottle per bird, 

 I find, and so one bottle was taken out shortly after starting 

 in order to make room for the first turd. As fast as the 

 bird.-, were shot tbey were placed in the side compartments, 

 and v. hen the lidc'wa- over we had the box partly full of 

 birds instead of hollies. On reaching shore the birds were 

 transferred to ibe ice-bouse. The following day the box 

 was used in the same manner. Just before si ailing for 

 home the ice compartment, was replenished and the two 

 days' birds placed in the outer ones, and I reached New York 

 with the game in perfect condition. 



On another occasion, desiring to use live ball in has- fish- 

 ing, 1 had a small tray luadetofit one of the side compart- 

 ments. The trav had a hem wire handle ami a perforated 



bottom. The middle compartment was tilled with ice, ihe 

 one having the tray with water and minnows, and the third 

 compartment with Lunch, etc. When bait was. wanted. 1 



opened the bos. lifted Ibc tray, which brought up all the 

 minnows and none of the water, so the selection was easily 

 made. The lunch was removed and stowed in the boat, 

 leaving a compartment empty for the reception of such fish 

 as were caught. 



The cost of the box, exclusive of straps, was $3,150. The 

 box may be carried in a large shawl strap, or better, by 

 straps riveted to the sides, or may he locked and sent by ex- 

 pi-ess, or a- baggage. On one occasion, 1 Idled the' box 



villi I 



liiii 



The baggage 

 Certify thai il cc 

 scruples by openi 



socks Ihai'l look i 

 I hose who travel 

 time- baggage-ma 



and slores. 

 icr refused 

 atained w, 



Dg Ihe box ; 

 Did of my v 

 with their g 

 store refuse 



ray to Long Island, 

 to receive it, unless I would 

 aring apparel. 1 satisfied his 

 ind transferring lo it a pair of 

 ilisc. 1 give l ins as a hint to 

 uns in gun cases, which some- 

 lo check. H. G. P. 



WILDFOWL AND GAME CLUBS. 



Ivlil'n- /■', 

 In vom 

 ■Aii I'pland and Hay Shooter," and your editor 

 iews I have kit 



Ml t&r< 

 of the 



. insl, tin 



of 1 

 3 Win 



k Go 



Many of my friend 

 during the past ten years I 

 clubs, "while others who ha 

 are frantically inquiring h 

 because the 



seen 



lion. 



■ hot wildfowl in] the Wesl 

 ■ lately joined const shooting 

 shot on the coast all theirlives 



hooling grounds in l.n U 'est, 

 ed out." It its the same old 



ing in field 

 Mountains, 

 the plains* 



tends from 

 and there i 

 of the hunt 



comfort 



-lory throughout the country 



Every man aud boy. who can afford it, owns one or two 

 b-loadcrs. and every ball-grown boy owns or borrows 



Sav 



bay l'u 



1 for 



kind ot blunderbuss or old muskel . then Cite Life 



whoshooi day and 



in po- 

 ll:. 



1 all! 



lisle 



Is than doth( 

 'The "rainy seas 

 ■I tllC Saoramcnlo 

 about the 1-t on 

 - -eidoniaday bet 

 ing season when i 

 fa stay 



i:i if 

 San 



l'he di 

 d the shooting is about as good i 

 as in Novembi 

 time during ll 

 toward the la- 

 ground- mo-i 

 army of -hoc 

 turn's tl 

 day 



1 the la- 



side of the Rocky 

 a coast range and on 



Joaquin valleys i \- 

 itil Hie. 1st. of May. 

 opening and closing 

 with perfect 



lOt s|„ 



on 



the 



Our Canadian friends allow egging vessels to be fitted out 

 to gather eggs of wildfowl cm the coast Of Labrador. This, 

 it appeals to me. is even more, destructive to game than 

 spring shooting on our coast. 



Many of my friends are giving up shooting In disgust. 

 They visit the shooting grQundsanct spend, their time and 



ut by thf 



Of eac 



ldreds 



ire generally thinned out 

 ew broods to restock the 

 ies. for there is a perfect 

 Sunday. San Francisco 

 n Saturday night and Sun- 

 ii 1 trains of cars leaving 

 Sundays, expressly for the 

 are localities in the hills, 

 protection from hunter: 



:k, spec 

 Ihecily at four o'clock A. M. or 

 convenience of gunnel's. There 

 however, where the quail havesi 



that their extermination will probably never be accomplished, 

 even through the facilities afforded by breech-loading guns 

 and blue-blooded dogs. 



Hut it must be that the quails have even worse enemies 

 than man, for 1 know of a ranch within ten mile- ot ibis 

 city, some 20,000 acres in exlent. on which the bird- have 

 been pretty well protected for J he last six or eight years, 

 aud 1 believe there are less of them there now than when 

 persons were permitted to shoot over it. This ranch bor- 

 ders on the American River, and there is plenty of bottom 



land with good c 

 rolling ground. Un- 

 hiding places for th 

 this ground withii 

 tively few. whereto 



etc., have heengett 



And here let 

 ever t 



■, and wooded ravines throughout the 

 ve oaks along which afford' excellent 

 birds. The number of quails shot on 

 ihe last few years has been compara- 

 : I think the skunks, coyotes, hawks, 

 ig in i heir work among them. 

 say I have always noticed that where- 

 allowed to shoot often the quail-, increase 

 in numbers, as the presence of hunters keeps oil" (he "var- 

 mints'' ihat prey upon the birds, while the latter are gener- 

 ally smart enough to avoid the skill of Ihe gunners. 1 be- 

 lieve thai if persons were permitted to hunt over the 

 grounds 1 have referred lo, in a very few years there would 

 be thousands of quails where there are now dozens. For the 

 California quail, while it is more than a nialch for the aver- 

 age sportsman, is at the mercy of its other enemies. If I 

 owned a 20,000-aere tract of this kind, on which 1 desired 

 lo have the quails multiply ,, I would at least keep a lew 

 " coyotes and wildcats, and have, 



bo 



t to 



American Kh 



ivithin 



lyotes aud wildcats (and 

 1 in the brush along the 

 sot this city. A sheep 

 ranch covering -14,000 acres begins almost at. the outskirts of 

 the city, aud adjoining il arc two others of 20,000 acres 

 each. On these great' ranches there are not three families, 

 the whole being given up lo bands of sheep and a few cat- 

 lie. These sheep are what attract Ihe. coyotes and wolves; 

 and vet Ihe owners thereof are doing all in their power to 

 keep' hunters oil' these grounds, on which there is consider- 

 able gaim — duck-, snipe, quails, eta One proprietor even 

 -callers poisoned meat ever his fields for the purpose of 

 killing the dogs of hunters, aud many valuable animals 

 have been lost thereby. This practice i- pursued on the 

 Norris Grant, whose owner is worth many millions of 

 dollars; and because he is thus wealthy nobody seems to be 

 willing to go to the courts to test his right either to arrest any- 

 one for trespass, or to spread poison thus promiscuously 

 about Ihe fields. There is a law on OUT Statute books mak- 

 ing ii a misdemeanor for any person to hunt on --inclosed" 

 grounds, bul this ranch is not inclosed on all side's, and the 

 owner has no legal right to drive anybody off it. The 

 trouble is that no person of ordinary m^-ans feels like danc- 

 ing attendance on the courts for months for the sake of 



ed. It : 

 keep the 



testing the law. Hence arrests have be 



some instances lines imp 



and arisloeracv seeking' 



of the poorer classes; and it 



such immense landholdings 



thousand acres of I his land 



eight families, or say 500 f 



would 



bring 



and in 



add 'be 



:ephe 



i San l-'r. 



the old story of wealth 

 ron h.:el upon the necks 

 California that 

 milled. Every 

 pjiori from live to 

 Itoeether, aud each 

 big farm lo itself These 000 families would 

 ruble trade into this city, whereas now the 

 iers thereon arc supplied by their employer 



, when I started this letter, to drift into 

 Ibis -ulijcci. but now that I have done so I will mention 

 another phase of the land-monopolj business as ii aiieci- 

 sportsmen. A couple of men own one iracl of laud in Ihe 

 San Joaquin Valley some sixty miles in extent. .Much of 

 tjjis has been inclosed, and, of course, they have aright, 

 under the law, lo keep hunters off ihe laid tbu- fenced. 

 Within their inclosurcs are said to be thousands of antelope, 

 to which they have really no more claim than the humblest 

 and poorest citizen, Neither have they any use for the 

 antelope. They are too infernally picayunish to purchase 

 - themselves for the purpose of having a little- sport, and 



day they 

 market i 



slid. OO0.000. 

 of country Iron 

 more than 100 8 



pcnni 



11 pro! 



add a 



Tin 



nyb< 



III! 



light not to prot 

 ations of sport 

 Jd be 

 roved 



Some 

 killed oil' for the 

 eir $50,000,«00 or 

 t any such extent 

 len. No field of 

 Opted from the pursuit of 

 nd even that limit should 



nothoidgood. ll is getting so now in this Stale thai one 

 considerable di.-'tance into the mountains before 

 losing sight of the "No Shooting on these Grounds" pla- 

 cards posted aloug the roadways. 

 Our Legislature convened to-day, and it is expected that 



