290 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



|NOTEMBBP. 10, 188l 



pay it, out in higher wages than those commonly received 

 for the hardest winter forest work, are not only pounced 

 upon but loaded with abuse in addition? What right have 

 the Wardens to enforce one part of the game law and ne- 

 glect another? What right have they to see only one class 

 of persons and overlook their own townsmen ? Indeed, it 

 is not we from other States who set a bad example to their 

 farmers and their guides; it is the sons of their merchants, 

 their landowners and their judges who set us the example, 

 and we arc made the scapegoats. Is this the way to enforce 

 the game laws? Luetics L. Hubbard. 



Cambridge, Mass., JVbc. 1, 1881. 



We publish in this connection an extract from a private 



letter, written to us by a Maine correspondent whose knowl- 

 edge of the facts and whose motives in writing to us as he 

 does cannot be questioned. He says : " The fact is, visiting 

 sportsmen (?) kill scores upon score* by jacking every sum" 

 mer. In this way they destroy deer, caribou and some 

 moose, and the powers that be wink at it : but let a poor 

 devil of a native go out for meat for his family, and there is 

 a fuss made over it. These men come in and tip a guide 

 a big greenback to float them off to the game. What 

 wonder, then, the guides go in for some on their own ac- 

 count? The trouble is, the leading men here are on the 

 make ; they wish to reap a harvest, of shekels, and so allow 

 it as all right for their patrons to break the law, and the 

 game and fish must be for them alone. Serve all alike before 

 the law." 



GAME FOR PHILADELPHIA BPORTSMEN. 



PniLADKLPHU, Nov. 2, 1881. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



Canvas-back ducks are this year showing themselves in 

 our river. Last week between thirty and forty were shot by 

 a police officer of Philadelphia by paddling on them. My 

 informant had not learned precisely where the ducks had 

 stopped, but thought somewhere near Bordentown or in the 

 neighborhood of Duck Island, up the Delaware. This is 

 very unusual, and it has been the cause of much oomment in 

 Philadelphia. More rail have been boated this season, so I 

 am informed at Krider's, than for many years. The crop of 

 seed was immense, which may in great measure account for 

 it. 



Quail, everybody who has been looking out for the " left 

 overs" and their broods, tells me are scarce in Maryland and 

 Delaware this autumn. The snows of last winter did destroy 

 numbers, notwithstanding reports of some to the contrary. 

 While some shooting may be expected in the Maryland and 

 Delaware sections that were protected from snow by tfra 

 thick growth of cedars, it is sure it would be best to let the 

 birds alone this year, even if we are to have an open winter. 



From Lehigh Valley, Pa., I receive advice this a. m. that 

 ruffed grouse are likewise decimated in numbers, owing to 

 last winter's severity — in fact, I have met but one gentleman 

 since my return to Philadelphia who reports game of all 

 kind* plentiful. The one iu question has just returned from 

 Moorefield, West Va., where he had been deer hunting with 

 rifle, and says he came across numbers of "pheasants," wood- 

 cork and quail. But, he was forty miles from a railroad 

 station, in a section where there were no shot guns nor bird 

 dogs. 



1 do not wish to be considered a chronic growler, but we 

 are fast coming to the time when our guns will have to be 

 hung on the hook unless steps are taken to protect game of 

 all kinds. The first to be made is to abolish all spring shoot- 

 ing — this will favor the migratory birds ; the next should be 

 attention paid to the quail which remain with us all winter. 



The flight of woodcock has not come on with us. On my 

 reaching Philadelphia, having observed it had made its ap- 

 pearance in New England, I took special pains to inquire 

 from reliable sources, and am able to write you that long- 

 bills must have tarried on their way and the pleasant weather 

 has favored this tarrying. They may be expected — what there 

 are left of them— the very next cold snap. 



Joe ivrider has returned from his ornithological trip to the 

 far West with a varied collection of birds, but I am sorry to 

 say he is much broken in health. 



Mr. Franklin Jones, ex-vice-president of the Philadelphia 

 Sportsmen's Club, has just presented to the Philadelphia Li- 

 brary two more complete volumes of the Forest and Stream. 

 The library now has every publication of your journal from 

 its first, issue. Homo. 



JOTTINGS OF A CHICKEN SHOOT. 



IV'E been on a chicken shoot. Now 1 suppose all chicken 

 shoots very nearly resemble each other. Two days and 

 two nights on the cars to get to the grounds in Western Iowa. 

 Five or six days' shooting. The same trip home again, 

 tedious in the heat and dust of September first, and almost 

 unbearable but for the comforts of the dining cars, palace 

 cars and sleeping coaches. 



There were four of us in the party, who, together with our 

 seven dogs, made quite a "mob." In our party there were dogs 

 and dogs. I will mention the dogs first as the best behaved, 

 temperate and quiet-o'-nights of the assemblage. First there 

 was "Duke." Duke is a red Irish setter, very fast, wide 

 ranger, an excellent nose and altogether a first-cluss dog, al- 

 though some birds were flushed at his wild speed with the 

 wind^ and others omitted in the wide sweep of his quartering 

 — scarcely ever trailing — hunting for the body scent only. 

 Quite different was Bazil. Poor Bazil !— killed at the hand 

 of a miserable assassin immediately upon his return home. 

 Bazil was not so f ubI, but a wide ranger at times ; bis forte 

 seemed to be trailing. From Bazil we learned where birds 

 had been ; and the gun had always time to keep up with him 

 while reading out and locating the birds. He retrieved at 

 the command, but preferred to simply point dead. He would 

 repeatedly point a winged bird in the grass, causing more de- 

 lay than the "dog which rushed in at once. "Star "was 

 another Irishman, very fast and wild— nwer on chickens be- 

 fore, and did not seem to get hold of them right ; but among 

 so many dog breaking is almost out of the question. 

 "Grouse," the black giant, was willfnl and headstrong. 

 working well at times and again breaking all the rules of dog 

 etiquette and his owner's patience. Next came "John" the 

 ■wild, John the unruly. Whistle nor whip, nor brier nor 

 brake, norhill nor stream could stop his wild chase. " Frank," 

 the steady old pointer, alow but sure and a perfect backer, his 

 age and flesh were against him. Last is the pointer " Sport " 

 — borrowed — and, his owner said, "staunch as Hades." He 

 was staunch on gophers. Gophers seemed to be his Bpecial 

 game. He ran with a kind of hop, as if he feared every mo- 



ment to step on or be bitten by a gopher. His neck was 

 arched and his nose pointed earthward at. an angle of forty- 

 five degrees, so also his stern. His eyes bunged out of his 

 head, actually starting from their sockets, in anticipation of 

 the all absorbing gopher. Undoubtedly a eood dog and 

 staunch, but, although he flushed many chickens, I doubt if 

 he ever winded or siw or heard one of them. My sides shake 

 and the salt sea-brine stands in my eyes as I think of the 

 picture that dog cut. We dubbed him "The Bloodhound," 

 and I fear the name will adhere to him. 



Of the boys there were four of us, and although the shoot- 

 ing was not extra, we killed all we wanted, fifteen to thirty 

 a day per gun ; and gave away birds at all the farm-houses. 

 We had any amount of fun. I doubt if there was ever more 

 side-shaking by so small a party in so short a time. We lay 

 awake nights to laugh, which only ended when White com- 

 menced his cornet solo. It was very s(o)norous. Then we 

 all tried to sleep. White was the heavy man of the party— a 

 good fellow to hold the seats from blowing out of the 

 wagon— his constitution being in good running order, it was 

 singular that he rode so much, while the slim-jiras of the 

 party followed the hetrogeneous pack of dogs before men- 

 tioned. Rob was the leader of the party, had been over the 

 grounds several seasons, biggest talker, headlaughtsman and 

 a crack shot. Charley was the young blood of the party, 

 no doubt he regretted the lack of young ladies on the prairies, 

 but he fought nobly, and allowed no sentiment to stand be- 

 tween him and the cackling old cbick— it cackled its last 

 cack to the crack of Charlie's gun. 



Cham was the " old man" of the party; nor blisters on his 

 heels nor blisters on his toes could confine him to the wagon ; 

 he hobbled and shot and kept up with the boys. 



There were seven dogs, and there were, also, seven guns ; 

 and I doubt if a better shooting lot are often carralled to- 

 gether. A new Westley Richards' hammerless, and, probably, 

 the best Nichols & Lefever in America, did fine execution in 

 the hands of Rob, who took his time. A new Green, of 

 Rochester, and old Greener in the hands of White were 

 death dealers. Charlie's English piece— don't remember the 

 maker — and Cham's pair of Parker's made up the lot. 

 Seventy to seventy-six paces were stepped off several times 

 to the dead prairie chick. 



May we meet again with dogs better broken. 



Mk-kit-ablk. 



THE MISSISQUOI BAY MARSHES. 



Montreal, November 1. 

 Editor Forest arid Stream : 



Since (he open season began the writer and his chums have 

 shot over a large portion of the St. Lawrence and Missisquoi 

 Bay marshes. We can report fair bags of duck and snipe, 

 but very few woodcock— in fact it is becoming quite a rarity 

 now to get a woodcock, where a few years ago we bagged 

 dozens. Of the duck tribe, the black ducks have been the 

 most plentiful, though in some localities the green-winged 

 teal have come in large numbers. Sea ducks and geese have 

 not yet appeared in their usual quantities, which means a 

 late open season. 



Contrary to expectation the waters in our rivers and lakes 

 are still very low. Early in the season the muskrat houses 

 were built both numerous and large, which was a sign of 

 early rains and high water, but as "all signs fail in a dry 

 Eeason," wc can excuse the "rats' 1 the mistake that they 

 made. 



In a few days we will turn our attention to ruffed grouse 

 shooting, and will then soon be able to report as to their 

 plentifulness or scarcity. 



The "Malrien Gun Club" have leased a portion of the 

 Missisquoi marshes in Swanton and Ilighgate, Vt., but will, 

 methinks, have difficulty in protecting their grounds until 

 the members of the club themselves learn to respect the 

 game laws of the State. A friend of mine caught some 

 members of the club setting "mink traps" for black ducks, 

 and this outside of the limits of their grounds— both poach- 

 ing and pot-hunting — but perhaps those pot-hunters were not 

 active members of the club, only honorary members. Ver- 

 mont bas game laws, and if its constables would do their 

 duty, those fellows would be taught to obey the laws of Hie 

 State. Stanstkab. 



RUST SPOTS IN GUN BARRELS. 



Pataskala, Ohio, Oct. 31, 



Editor Fore«t and Stream: 



I notice in the last few numbers of Forkst and Strkam 

 that the care of gun barrels has received considerable atten- 

 tion, and various are the opinions advanced — some advocating 

 no care, others expressing strong faith in cleanliness. I 

 have heard old hunters here say they put their gun away- 

 just as they brought it home and did not clean it out, or oil 

 it— in fact gave it no attention till they wanted it again— 

 and they invariably siy it is as hriaht as a dollar. 



It requires only a moment's reflection to see the absurdity 

 of Buch statements. Any one who bas observed the rcsidiuum 

 left in gun barrels knows that it quickly absorbs moisture. 

 A gun may stand in the house during warm, dry days, but 

 the first damp, wet, day that comes it will not fie found so. 

 Simply insert the finger in the muzzle : on withdrawal, it 

 will be found moist, if not wet. When moisture is brought 

 iu contact with iron or steel, oxide of iron, or rust, is 

 formed. What would the farmer say, if one were to tell 

 him that the best way to keep his plow in good condition is 

 to leave it in the fence corner, where he finished his work, 

 or to take it to the barn, with the dirt and mud on it, as he 

 turned the last foot of furrow? lie, would laugh at you for 

 such advice. He takes his implements to his barn, and cleans 

 them, aud either paints or varnishes them. When they are 

 wanted, they are ready and as bright as when laid away. 



Ody a little common sense and judgment is required to 

 keep a gun as nice and bright inside for twenty years as the 

 day it came from the factory, laying aside the chemical ac- 

 tion of some kinds of powder, if such there be. I have 

 used guns six years, and they are as bright as when they left 

 the factory. I never allow a gun to stand over night without 

 cleaning and oiling, be I ever so tired. Even if I only take 

 a gun out to shoot a single shot this same rule is invariably 

 observed. During the close season, if my gun is not used, I 

 take it from the case once a week and wipe off the old grease 

 and oil it again. I use fine sewing machine oil. I feel satis- 

 fied that if the above rale is strictly observed, and the bar- 

 rels are of good material, nothing but most satisfactory re- 

 sults will be obtained. I have no further use for the wire- 

 scratch brush ; the horse-hair brash I find sufficient to re- 

 move all dirt and lead, and it does no injury to the barrels. 



A. O. A. 



Ogdensburg, N. Y., Oct. 26.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I have been much interested in the discussion of late anent 

 rust in gun barrels and the way to prevent it, ; and I have 

 no doubt any one of the various methods are good and will 

 answer the purpose if properly applied. Is it not due in 

 most ca°es a want of "elbow-grease" and thorough cleaning, 

 which is the root of the whole trouble? Now, my own 

 method is this : I make it a rule to clean my gun as soon after 

 I am done shooting as possible, first using kerosene, to re- 

 move the dirt, then the wire brush to take out any pa'ticles 

 of lead or dirt which may adhere to barrels, wiping out dry 

 with cotton waste. I then take a square of flannel dipped in 

 hot pure mutton fat, the flannel of sufficient size to til, bar- 

 rels tight (I always keep a supply of these squares on hand), 

 and with it remove every speck of dirt, wiping dry and oil- 

 ing lightly with Rangoon oil. I place the gun near the stove 

 all night after cleaning and oiling it outside aud the action. 

 I have never us«d water, no matter how dirty thegunmavbe. I 

 occasionally use jeweler's rouge, and have found it of excel- 

 lent service in keeping barrels bright and smooth, far better 

 than emery. When I lay the gun up I giveit a good coating 

 of mutton fat and have never found a speck of rust, in the 

 spring. I may add that when duck shooting I apply a light 

 coat of boiled oil over the outside of gun. It forms a skin 

 when dry, will effectually prevent rust, no matter bow wet 

 the gun may get, and is easily removed. I never bcerudge 

 an hour or two in cleaning my gun. and in consequence have 

 never been troubled with rust.— Ten Bore No. 2. 



Corning, N. Y— Editor Fore.it and Stream : Allow me to 

 suggest to those interested in the subject of "rust spots in 

 gun barrels" and how to prevent them, that, certain grades of 

 powder is the cause, and the manufacturer thereof could ex- 

 plain if he would. So change your powder ; and never be so 

 shiftless or lazy as to let your gun stand over night without a 

 thorough cleaning with a dry cloth. Rub dry "with flannel, 

 and never put any water, hot or cold, into a gun barrel, and 

 use no lard nor sperm oil, nor any oil that requires water in 

 its manufacture, as it. will certainly leave a red rust if you 

 give it time, Use instead vaseline, which is equally good 

 for fine steel cutlery and surgical instruments ; and you can 

 put your fine guns in the cellar if you wish without any risk 

 of rust appearing.— J. H W. 



WHERE TO SHOOT RAUL. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In looking over some numbers of your paper to-day I ob- 

 serve that you give some prominence to rail shooting by fur- 

 nishing the scores made during September upon certain 

 grounds iu Pennsylvania aud Virgiuia. I have often won- 

 dered why those who like this form of amusement have not 

 had their attention called to the two rivers of Cumberland 

 County, New Jersey, the Cohansey and Maurice. Near 

 Bridgeton. on the former, there is an excellent, meadow (the 

 only one on its twenty-mile course overflowed by the tide) of 

 about two hundred acres. A great many rail have been killed 

 there the present year. The highest bug was, I believe, 189, 

 the average bag beimr from 75 to 100. The shooting would in 

 every season be called very good upon this meadow, notwith- 

 standing its neighborhood to a town of 10,000 inhabitants, 

 but for the superior attractions of the Maurice River, which, 

 1 suppose, furnishes the best rail shooting in the world. 



At Mauricetown the "gunner" who likes slaughter may 

 have his fill. The village is a pleasant one, inhabited by an 

 intelligent and cordial people, having a spacious and well- 

 kept hotel, presided over by a landlord who is one of the 

 most unobtrusive of men as well as one of the most obliging. 

 He has the rare faculty of justly anticipating his guests' 

 wisheB, and at the same time without making any fuss or 

 asking any but a very moderate compensation. The village 

 is situated between two meadows ; the upper contains about 

 250 acres and the lower about 800. Two hundred yards 

 from the wharf takes the shooter to either meadow. 



There are good accommodations also at Port Elizabeth,, at 

 the upper end of the upper meiulo.v. 



During the past season the individual scores ranged in the 

 neighborhood of 200 to the tide. The highest, was made 

 Sept. SO, by George Boweu, of Mauricetown, who bagged 

 412 in a tide of about, five hours. 



I am satisfied from what, I saw the day I was there that I 

 could have boated 500 birds, if 1 had had the ammunition. 



Any of your readers who fancy this most laborious amuse- 

 ment would do well to make a note of this, and next year 

 write to William Royal, Mauricetown, or Heury D. Paullin, 

 Port, Elizabeth, Cumberland County, New Jersey, who are 

 the hotel keepers above referred to. 



NOTES FROM MISSOURI. 



Jackson, Mo., Oct. 31, 1881. 

 Editor Forest avA Stream: 



On last Saturday our sporting men had a target shooting 

 match, with shotguns, at a target one foot, in diameter, with 

 circles thereon, numbering from one to six— the centre or 

 smallest circle being six, and thus hack to one, the outer cir- 

 cle. A shot in No counted six in the score, and so on in 

 each of the circles The shoot was at forty yards range, off- 

 hand. Our hardware merchant, S. D. Williams, had gratui- 

 tously donated a silver cup as the prize, for which there were 

 twenty contestants, each man having two shots. The score 

 of the six best was as follows : . 



Daniel Mildc, 214; R. P. Wilson (m), 231; D H. Hil- 

 dreth, 420; J. II Jenkins, 203; S. W. Brown, 212; F. A. 

 Ohrmiller (m), 19G. 



Both muzzle and breech loaders were used, and the breech- 

 loaders made the heBt score, although some expressed the 

 belief that they would be "left." In the score I designate 

 the muzzle-loader by an (m) in parenthesis. There were 

 twelve who used breech-loaders, and eight who used muzzle- 

 loaders. The average for breech-loaders was B1J, and for 

 muzzle, 70 1-16. 



The hunting season is now open here for all kinds of game. 

 Quail hunting is indulged in, but the birds are not very 

 numerous. We noticed a goodly number of robins in one 

 place last week. Squirrels woro plentiful a few weeks ago, 

 but are scarce now. Our boys are getiiug ready for the 

 ducking season, and some of them are off for the lakes be- 

 low here this week, and others will soon follow- We had 

 good snipe and plover hunting here early lust spring, and 

 hope for the same again. For deer and turkey we go to the 

 swamp, fifteen or twenty miles south of here, aid although 

 our first two trips this fall were not very successful, we had 

 a jolly good time. Gamo will be more plentiful there later, 

 though squirrels are always numerous. C. R. H. 



