230 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ootobbb 20, 1881 



coun'ry on the growing scarc'ty of our gnme birds, and at 

 tbe same lime llic many honest attempts to solve the why 

 and «]ierclore of Ibis rli p'elli n, as welt bb the saving and 

 increatiiiL' the present Block. 1 believe from these inquiries 

 and predicts up, tbe r< suit of careful observations of sports- 

 inens' expetk'xces, that something will eventually produce a 

 salulary and beneficial c! ange. My experience has taught 

 me, cone rri net his vexed question, lOHttrihute this growing 

 scaicby to three causes, viz., spring flioot'iig, breech-loaders, 

 and lastly, but not least, tbe emulation existing among mem- 

 bers of tbe shooting fraternity for a public record of big 

 bags. Of these three evils I deem spring shooting the most 

 pernicious and destructive ; secondly, I cannot too stiongly 

 deprecate this unsportsmanlike and i eprehensible infatua- 

 tion fir wholesale slaughter and destruction. And why I 

 mention the breech-loader is not because I am an advocate 

 of ye ancient muzzle-loader, but .from the belief that if the 

 breech loader is not usee! wilb judgment, it becomes an ac- 

 cessory in the gratification of producing this result of big 

 score notoriety.— Washington A. Co6teb, Flatbush, Long 

 Island. 



» H i « 



[STATE PIGEON TOURNAMENTS. 



New Yoke, Oct. 18, 1881. 

 Edit-r For ml. and Stream: 



1 am glad to see that you propose discussing thoroughly 

 the question nf pigeon shooting at tbe Stale meetings. I, as 

 you probably remember, have always been opposed to it for 

 a numb r of reasons, and give them now again : 



In i he fiist, place, I clami that the name! " Society for the 

 Protection of Game," used by the New York State Associa- 

 tion. is;i misnomer. They never have given the " Protection 

 of Game'' eitlv r time, attention or money. On the contrary, 

 I claim that the action of the Btatd Association has made 

 them a laughing stock among real workers iw the protection 

 of game, and has injured them in the eyes of the public. 



While, I presume, there is no objection to the shooting of a 

 friendly match at pigeons or with the rifle, or a contest in 

 fly-casting, it should be a side matter, and should take place 

 after the business part of the meeting j but I cannot see why 

 pigeon shooting should receive prizes valued at thousands of 

 dol ars, while ri Ho shooting, fiy.eas'ing, etc., receive prizes 

 of 1 ardly any value at all. Better offer prizes to those who 

 have protected game the best, and rewards for the convic- 

 tion of poach' rs. I do not know how much money wmb 

 spent last, year, but I guarantee it was more than ever was 

 spent on the protection of game since the Association has ex- 

 isted. W. HoLBKETON. 



WilSes-babbk, Pa., October, 1881. 

 Editor Forest and Stream • 



I have read yvftir editorial carefully, and fully concur with 

 the views expressed by you. 



There can be but one opinion as to effect of pigeon tourna- 

 ments, in connection with the meetings of Stale associations. 

 "No man can servo two ma-ters" was written many years 

 ago, and time continues to prove the truth of the adage. 



•Pennsylvania has not, and never has had, one of these 

 tournaments, and 1 hope she never will, Since the organiza- 

 tion of one State association, our meetings have been solely 

 devoted to the interests of a game protective society. 



It is true that we have had once or twice little social events, 

 tbe day alter < ur meetings, but nothing in the way of tour- 

 naments, so called. 



That there is anything morally wrong in pigeon shooting I 

 am not competent to say or judge; that it is a means of 

 enabling thiw, who have but little time for field practice, to 

 Ki ip in uood shooting form is no doubt the truth; but when 

 Slate associations have become so demoralized that the dele- 

 gates are pigeon shooters, and nothing else, when the ob- 

 j ets for which the a-sociations were organized are so far 

 forgotten that tbe shooting becomes the all-absorbing topic 

 and the chief end of the meeting, as you truly say, "it is 

 time for a change of programme." 



The fact of the ma ter is that the people look with distrust 

 on "sportsmen " at the best, and we must deport ourselves 

 in such a way us to gain the regard and respect of the com- 

 munity, or our usefulness is gone. If, therefore, we become 

 bards of bird staffers, ir.steaei of bird savers, we engender I 

 distrust and cast, opprobrium upon our cause, destroy our 

 Usefulness and invite violations of the Jaws we get passed— 

 instead of making the name of " sportsmen " an honorable 

 title, wc only join ourselves to the band who "make their 

 living by their wits." B. F. Dobbanob. 



(From t&eFcrea ana Stream, Oct. 13.) 

 Tin's i« asutjicl whicl hascomcinlo decided prominence 

 during the past \ car. We have, however, purposely deferred 

 its consideration in these columns, because the question is 

 one which should be discussed fairly and impartially on its 

 merits, and not solely in its relation to any single particular 

 occasion or society. The State pigeon shooting tournaments 

 of 1881 are past; those of 1883 are yet a long way off. 

 This, then, is a fit time to consider the question which has 

 engaged tbe serious attention of many sportsmen throughout 

 the country. It is this: Is the wholesale trap shooting of 

 pigeons a proper employment to consume the time at the 

 van us State conventions of sportsmen ? 



1 o answer this candidly, it is necessary to look the facts 

 squarely m the face. Briefly staled, they are as follows ; 



1. State associations are formed for the purpose— so their 

 iitlcs, constitutions and professions declare— of advancing 

 the interests ot sportsmsirship and for securing the better 

 protection of fish and game. 



2. Annual conventions are held by each association, to 

 which delegates arc sent from the several clubs composing it. 



3. These delegates are those who are most expert as trap 

 shooters. 



4. Professional trappers are hired to trap tens of thousands 

 of pig. ons on then nesting grounds. These birds are packed 

 in crates and conveyed to the places designated for the con- 

 ventions. 



5. 'I'll e on'y business accomplished at the conventions is 

 the shooting of these pigeons, dividiug the prizes and arrang- 

 ing for the next shoot. 



6. Many inlluomiul sportsmen who have a warm interest 

 in matters pertaining to the advancement of sport, withhold 

 Iheir support and presence from the State trap shooting tour- 

 naments. The number of prominent men thus holding aloof 

 is ) early increasing. 



7. Not only do iliese conventions accomplish absolutely 

 nothing in the right direction, but more and worse than this, 

 they have a positively bad influence in their effect upon 

 public option. Instead of fostering by their transac- 

 tions a popular appreciation of the dignity of field 

 spurts, and a public sympathy with the spirit and objects of 



just game laws, they bring the term "game protection " 

 into ridicule and contempt. The only time the pubbc bears 

 anything of these societies is when its ears are saluted by the 

 fusillade of their guns at the pigeon traps. The outside 

 world never dreams of the existence of these State associa- 

 tions for the protection of game, except when they pose be- 

 fore it as exterminators of wild pigeons. The influences of 

 these conventions upon those who participate in them is also 

 questionable. In one State at least the annual tournament is 

 tending more and more every year to a money-making affair. 

 One of the State tournaments of 1b81 was. to all discoverable 

 intents and purposes, a grand money-making scheme on the 

 part of the clubs under whose direct management it was 

 held. The speculation failed, because tbe public could not 

 be induced to pay gate money to witness the immense and 

 business like slaughter of pigeons. The convention was bar- 

 ren alike of dividends for the stockholders in the Echeme and 

 of any sing'e good result which should legitimately have fol- 

 lowed a game society's convention. 



These are the facts; but in regard to them very diverse 

 views are held. It is argued, on the one hand, that the 

 pigeon is not a game bird ; that, there is no sufficient rea- 

 son why it should not be utilized for trap shooting ; that it 

 is no more cruel to kill one pigeon than one quail, nor twen- 

 ty thousand pigeons at the trap than twenty birds in the 

 field; that when the number of congregated shooters is 

 taken into consideration the average number of pigeons per 

 man is not excessive ; that no other form of amusement can 

 be substituted for the-trap shooting of live birds and; that 

 without some such attraction the conventions would not be 

 held. 



On the other hand, there is a growing conviction among 

 an anually increasing number of sportsmen that this year- 

 ly slaughter of thoii8ards of birds is essentially cruel, un- 

 manly and unworthy of the societies which practice it; that 

 the average shooting afforded by these birds, which have 

 been cooped up and starved for so long a period before they 

 are finally put into Ihe trap, end throwu weak, dazed and 

 helpless into the air to the spot where the gun was pointed 

 before the trap was sprung, requires no special skill ; that, 

 trap shooting is largely trick shooting ; that the motives of 

 those participating in the State shoots are mercenary ; that 

 in their eagerness to secure prizes the pigeon shooters are 

 nothing more nor less than "mug hunters';" that if pigeons 

 are not game birds, game associations certainly have nonbusi- 

 ness to trap and shoot t hem by wholesale ; that pigeon shoot- 

 ing is an infatuation with which these game societies are so 

 fibed that they wholly fail to do their legitimate work ; and 

 that, if pigeon shooting were abolished from the annual 

 conventions, the S'atc associations would receive large ac- 

 cessions of intluenti'il supporters, and would then accomplish 

 the ends for which they are professedly organized but which 

 have not been gained. 



Another objection to these large pigeon shooting tourna- 

 ments is one wholly apart from any sentiment, and is rec- 

 ognized by both parties; that is, the growing scaroi'y of the 

 birds, the consequent difficulty of procuring a sufficient sup- 

 ply and the increased expense. During the past year this 

 objection has presented itself with more force than ever be- 

 fore, and has in some instances practically put a stop to pro- 

 po'ed tournaments. 



This question of shooting pigeons or not shooting pigeons 

 is one which demands the candid and deliberate consideration 

 of those who have at heart the perpetuity and usefulness of 

 our Sta'e sportsmen's associations. 



The emestion is not whether pigeon shoo'ingisin itself 

 cruel ; it has nothing to do with ordinary pigeon shooting as 

 a form of amusement for individuals and clubs. 



The point at issue is simply whether by dispensing with 

 these vast annual trap slaughters of birds the associations of 

 sportsmen in various States cannot accomplish better results, 

 more Successfully further the common interests of their 

 clubs, attain a greater prestige and wield a more potent in- 

 fluence. 



We invite an expression of views. 



WAY DOWN EAST. 



use in shooting them. I am told that in the northern and I 



eastern part of the S ate deer are quite plenty. Moose are J 



rarely se«. I see by your last an art cie stating a moose | 



wa< killed at Kog Lake, Sep'. 15. Come, Air. Stanley, \ 



teach this Dr. Porter a lesson, that those who come down j 



here every year ami pot our game out of season may profit I 



by it. Tbe. remarks made in Portland, as suV ed by Homo, I 

 "that four dollars to a warden would take you to a moose " 



is undoubtedly the case with some. I have heard of one I 



near Enfield, who acts as guide, proposing to furnish canoe, I 

 dogs, etc., for a p riy intending to hunt deer. I eeii only 



say to these gentry it is profitable for a while, but arc you I 

 not killing the bird •'. that laid the golden egg?" 



Borne other time I may tell you of a poaching scrape or i 

 joke on one of our fishing sportsmen. Wad. 



" Way Down East," Oct. 5. 



ILLINOIS DUCKING GROUNDS. 



Cuillicothe, Peoria Co., 111., October, 1881. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



If further proof of the usefulness of your paper were 

 necessary the following may illustrate what advantage sports- 

 men!, take of its columns. Some time ago "J. W. B." stated 

 in Forest and Stream that he wished to be put in communi- 

 cation with a practical docker in the West. 1 replied through 

 your columns, ottering t.o give him the desired information, 

 but, to my astonishment thirty-seY n letters from all parts of 

 the country, North, South, E est and West, found their way 

 to Box K. 1 replied to several of these, but as my time was 

 limited, and as market shooiers [please don't print this "pot- 

 hunters"] are not usually sufficiently wealthy to Eecure the 

 services of a private secretary, I resolved to ask your aid in 

 letting your readers know what our country is like. 



ChilliCOthe is situs '.eel on tbe west bank of the Illinois 

 River, and has about l.OuO inhabitants, good, bad and indif- 

 ferent; and has probably more professional hunters among 

 its population than any town of its size in tbe West, Of 

 game we have almost all varieties— prabie chickens (not very 

 plentiful), quail (any amount), woo (cock, jack snipe, plover, 

 ruffed grouse (supply limited), wild turkeys (do) : and of 

 water fowl, any quantity and of all kinds, from Canada geese 

 to green-winged leal. 



We have, however, no professnnal guides. One corres- 

 pondent claimed that I adve tised myself as such. If I did 

 I was not aware ot it, and aoi sorry to say tint if such were 

 the case Forest akd Stream received no consideration for 

 the "ad." Thcreis no onewhose businessitis to hire out boats 

 and decoys. Still, our hunters are always willing to show 



Editor Forest and Stream, : 



In looking over some back numbers of the Fobest and 

 Stream, I saw an article from an old friend whom I have 

 known from my boyhood, a most perfect sportsman anil 

 without exception, the finest field shot I ever saw. When I 

 sty this, and it should come to his ears, I think I can hear 

 him say, as I have henrd him reply oftentimes to some person 

 who was declaring that his dog was tbe best in tbe world, 

 etc., "Have you seen them all ?" I plead I have not seen 

 all the shots, but I have seen a great niauy in the West and 

 in the East ; and I know whet I am talking about. When 1 

 saw the article 1 thought that your readers down on this 

 rocked-ribbed coast, who feel that they are particularly 

 favored if they can, by hunting hard all day, get three or four 

 brace of woodcock or grouse, would be pleased to hear of 

 some of the bags made a few years ago; and knowing that 

 my friend used to keep an accurate record of his shooting, 

 the idea came into my head that I would ask you to use 

 your persuasive influence and gtt him to allow you to print 

 them"; and if possible to spin a yarn or two of old Nell or 

 Belle, of ttips and shooting at Shelby, A- hley, Woodville 

 and other places. I can jog his memory when it fails him, 

 which I doubt ever will when shooting talk is going od. I 

 am happy to say I graduated in the class of youngsters that 

 he initiated into the art of shooiing. I think I hear bim 

 say. " Pretty low in the class, wonder he got through at all ;" 

 however, I have followed up his instruction of "Shoot 

 away, they are in a darned sight more danger than you" 

 pretty well, when there has been anything to shoot at. Down 

 this way the cover is so thick that we have to, as a friend ex- 

 presses it, " Shoot at the noise seven-tenths of the time." 

 The person I refi r to is James Chubb, of Cleveland, O. I 

 hope you may induce him to give your readers what I am 

 sure will be a pleasure to them, a chance to see what shooting 

 used to be in Ohio ; and now that we are all scattered and 

 some dead, try and get him to tell us where that spot was 

 where he got seventy-three woodcock in one day, for if I ever 

 get back to Cleveland I want to try it. 



Our shooting does not promise to be very great this fall in 

 my neighborhood at least. The spring late, wet summer 

 aud to-day, October 5, snow falling (twelve miles from here 

 this morning it was two inches deep) so woodcock I am 

 afraid will make but a hurried stop on their flight to Bunny 

 skies. Yet it may conic off warm ; if Vennor has predicted 

 cold I am sure it will. Grouse are not plenty, and the cover 

 is thicker than I ever saw it before. Hares are plenty, and 

 we have right royal sport, after woodcock have gone, shooting 

 them over beagles. Coot and seaducks are very plenty, but 

 no one eating them, this way at least, and there is not much 



i'l 



hud ; 



He 



any one around and help them to what sport 

 though, often very ungratefully, ihese amateur: 

 them up as pot-hunters, men too lazy to work, r 

 vagrants, etc. — see " Dydunus " in a late i-sue of EoiiKflT 

 Strkam. By the way, I tVe) sorry for " Oyrtinms." 

 pitches into the clubs, first, who buy lands for their own ex- 

 clusive right, and when he gets worsted in his communistic 

 arguments, he turns his heavy ailillery on the unfortunate 

 miirket shooters, from whom there is le-s danger of retalia- 

 tion Oh, lie, "DydimusI" If you will only conn: "out 

 West " nnd follow us day after day, we will show you that 

 laziness is no component part of a Wet'rn m rket-stioo er's 

 make-up, and we will try to give, you such sport as will put 

 you in a better humor with y urseif and the world in general. 



The weather here has so I n.r been unfavorable for ducking- 

 ton warm. The malla'ds have not pur in an appearance 

 though there are thousands of blue-wings aud some jack 

 snipe. As to the number of ducks -\ gun can Kill in a day, of 

 course mnctt. depends on tbe individual behind the gun, but, 

 we consider irom forty to fifty a fair day, and bags of 100 to 

 125 are not at all rare occurrences. Our be-t big last, full was 

 215. and then wdhad no wild rice. This year we have a 

 magnin'cent crop, and the prospects for big bogs are good. 

 Twenty five miles up Ihe river from us there is «. ciialn of 

 lakes, with a hotel on the bank of one (Senachwine) lor the 

 ace mi modal ion of hunters. The surrounding country is a 

 grand one for wild fowl shooing, though on account of being 

 advertised it is somewhav overstocked with shooiers. The 

 hotel is kept, by one " Grubhs," who keeps boats and decoys 

 for hire. Ilis charges arc %\ 35 per day for board and use 

 of boat— decoys and pusher extra:, 



In conclusion, the whole of the Illinois River Valley, in 

 the season, is one vast feeding gr mnd for wild fowl, and one 

 can hardly ruisB getting good sport, at any point he may 

 strike, it. I have hunte, I it from one end to the other and 

 know whereof I write. Ltjoy. 



THE HURTLING GROUSE. 



McDonald's Corner, Queen's County," 1 

 New Brunswick, Canada, 0:f. 1 1. j 



I SEND you a few game notes from mis tV-oSf corner of 

 " Kanuekia " Duck 'hooting has been better hee this 

 season than at any time during tbe past five years, and some 

 very heavy bags have been made — mostly "blacks" and 

 teal — it being rather early for ''dippers." Snipe and wood- 

 cock are scirce, but during the nlon'h of September cmlew 

 were very plentiful. As we bad two inches of snow last 

 evening, sportsmen expect soon to bear the musical 'honk " 

 of the wild goose. During no season in the past fifteen years 

 have ruffed grouse (" biich partridge," we call them hero.) 

 been so scarce as now, the. (net being probably due to the 

 long continued rains during the hatching season. 



A corresponelenr, writing to your paper in 1830, says he 

 would call a man an artist who could kill one grouse out of 

 six find at while on the wing. I would be willing to grant 

 that title to any one who could make one successful flying- 

 shot in twenty at our grouse. Bret H arte says: "To keep 

 your plow in the furrow when the cattle begin to 'rare' 

 ain't no sure thing," but had he made the first line— " To 

 'draw a bead' on a partridge when once he gels in the air," 

 the simile would have been far more forcible. I have h tin ed 

 grouse ever since I could rais '-& gun — probably about sixteen 

 seasons. During that tin.e I have bunted with men who 

 were nearly certain death to any duck, snipe, pigeon or 

 cock, which attempted to get, up within gunshot, but when 

 they tried a flying grouse there was always too much "rapid 

 transit" about his way of locomotion for them. I do not 

 BS.y that the feat cannot be performed, but I would rive five 

 dollars to see it done, and twice that to do it myself, for it 

 bus been my one great ambition US a hunting feat, and 1 have 

 always failed. 



Wc have one consoling fact in connection with the scarcity 

 of grouse this year — the roar of the pot-hunter's brass- 

 banded musket resouudetb not in the land, f ;r he is too con- 

 foundedly shiftless to buy boats in which to shoot water fowl. 



L. I. F. 



