332 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Noyembkb 24, 1881. 



■working them up. In localities where usually I could easily 

 kill from ten to twenty in B day— and all flying— it was im- 

 possible to kill ni re 'him five 01 six in a hard day's work, 

 and count in one or Iwo "p •■-shuns" at that. The farmers 

 say i hat verj few young birds were batched this spring; and 

 they say that ihey bad the same trouble with domestic 



fOWls. — B(.'S A SA. 



HHjttt Forest and Stream : In your journal I never 

 have seen any intimation that the decrease was ever 

 owing to an epidemic disease, to which I think the 

 Rasorials are liable — similar in its speedy woik to 

 what is called on the Pacific Slope the "chicken 

 cholera," where whole roosts are sometimes found 

 dead in Hie morning. The only sign evident to the 

 unscientific observer is a lack of blood" in the body, and a 

 small clot at or in the heart. Having hud, within the fifty 

 years agone, many dogs, whose ruling passion was to retrieve, 

 they would bring me everything that was dead: and when 

 not too ardently engaged, I would examine to Bee if the birds 

 had been shot or killed by their natural enemies. I oc- 

 casionally found that there were no marks of either, but that 

 the flesh was without blond, though I do not remember but 

 one instance where the blood was at the heart. 1 once saw 

 a gray eagle fall dead a few yards from me, after I had 

 Watched his circles some time." His body was also bloody, 

 but there was in his throat a long clot about the size of a 

 lead pencil. As it is well-known that "hole broods of birds 

 suddenly disappear, and also all the birds from entire lo- 

 calities, I thought a word to show that, there may be other 

 causes than of injudicious hunting and natural enemies. 

 Yolumns could and should be written on the preservation of 

 game by the destruction of tu< ir natural foes, and why any 

 people calling themselvt s sane should toster and encourage 

 these foes puzzles a Vetkean Obskhvbk. 



WILD FOWL AT MONT AUK. 



Grkenpout, L. I., Nov. 14. 



Editor Fc7r.it and Stream : 



I have just got information from a captain of one of the 

 fishing steamers that there is now good gr tss-feed in the Great 

 Pond at Montauk, and that some 300 geese were seen there 

 by h m some ten or twelve days since. If this is so, and I 

 have no reason to roubt it, there will again be first-rate 

 shooting at Montauk for ducks and geese. 



A dozen years since, and long before that time, Moutauk 

 was the greatest resort for wild fowl in the Northern Coast. 

 The waters of the Great Pond (400 acres) were ihea fresh, 

 and the grass feed abundant, and I have been told by an old 

 gunner here that he always found the pond alive with wild 

 fowl, especially with geese. He says there must have been 

 there some ten thousand geese at a look. 



Since that time the pond has been leased to eelers, who 

 have opened an inlet admitting the entrance of the salt-tides 

 of the bay, which has killed out the fresh grass, and of 

 course furnished no feed for wild-fowl. 



Moutauk has, within a couple of years, been purchased at 

 auction =ale by a Mr. Arthur Benson, of Brooklyn, for the 

 sum of $150 000, ami we presume the pond' has been closed 

 up against the salt-tides by his direction. If so. he merits 

 from all gunners a vote of thanks, provided he allows fowlers 

 free use Of the shooting-ground. 



We knew a Mr. Arthur Benson in Boston, years ago, and 

 was a college friend of his, but had lost sight of him for a 

 long period ; perhaps this is the same. Isaac MoLellajj. 



STATE PIGEON 1 OURNAMENTS. 



Wateebury, Conn., Nov. 16, 1881. 

 Editor Forest, and Stream; 



The practice of making the annual meetings of your State 

 Association for the Protection of Game the occasion of a 

 pigeon shooting lournamen 1 seems to be so generally depre- 

 cated by aU true sportsmen that 1 am not surprised that the 

 better class of that association desire that its name be so 

 changed as to indicate its real purpose and business. 



It would seem to be obvious that the association is directly 

 responsible for the cruel practices which result from the 

 offer, at high prices, to buy netted pigeons. Such a market 

 ■for the birds induces hundreds of professional trappers to 

 follow them to their nesting places, Will re ihey ba'e and net 

 vast numbers of them while reating their young, which I 

 young are of course left to starve. If this is not revolling ' 

 cruelty what, name will you give it ? 



We should feel reluctant to call that man a sportsman who 

 "would deliberately shoot the mother of a brood of young- 

 quail, or catch trout from their spawning beds, and, worse 

 still, leave such trout to decay on the ground: and it ought 

 to he regarded as unsportsmanlike, as well as cruel and bar- 

 barous, to kill purely for sport. 



I had no intention of obtruding my criticism upon the 

 act of your Siaie Association when I commenced this 

 letter, but simply, as I now do, suggest that there is a short 

 way to au effectual remedy for the evil about which so many 

 complain — viz., by enacting a law similar to one passed by 

 the Connecticut Legislature in 1875, which provides, among 

 other things, that '-No person shall let loose or suffer to es- 

 cape from any trap, net or other place of confinement, or 

 from any method of restraint, or expose in any way any 

 bird or fowl of any kind, for the purpose of having such 

 bird or fowl shot, or shot at for sport, gain or trial of skill of 

 marksmen, or ether purpose, or to be shot or shot at, at 

 any shooting match." W. 



[Such a law would include in its prohibition also small 

 pigeon trap-shoots, which are very different affairs from the 

 immense tournament. There is no call to pass a law against 

 such matches.] 



DAKOTA TERRITORY GAME. 



Lowek Bkpxe, D. T., Nov. 7. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



Ducks, geese and sandhill, or whooping crane, have been 

 here in countless numbers this year. The farmers who live 

 in the vicinity Of Red Lake, who did not gather their com 

 early, have had if nearly destroyed by the cranes and geese. 

 As fine shooting (or them as can be found in this country can 

 be had at Red Lake, about six miles from Chamberlain, the 

 present terminus of the 0. M & St. Paul R. H., ou the Mis- 

 souri River. Yearly all kinds of ducks are found there, and 

 an E istern sea fowl is no more to be compared to the mallard 

 or the teal shot here than an old squaw is to their black or 

 dusky duck. I shot teal yesterday that were as fat as but- 

 ter, and broiled over a good hot lire it is a tidbit for a king. 

 Pintail grouse, called bv the people here prairie chicken, 

 are rath'. r scarce just about here, though they are getting 

 down on the river in considerable quantities, and I think 

 will give the boys a chance to try their small-bore rifles 

 shooting them from the trees when winter sets in. 



Deer must be very plenty, judging from the signs which 

 are all about on this side of the liver. They have been 

 hunted but very little this fall, and the snow las', winter be- 

 ing so deep kept the hunters from going out. I shot a splen- 

 did buck while duck limiting on a creek, and wounded a doe 

 with my shotgun. One of our chiefs has been out and 

 killed fourteen deer and a large number of beaver, which 

 are very plenty on the creeks and along the river hanks. 



Chamberlain boasts of as good a hotel as can be found on 

 the river, the Brule House, kept by Mr. Austin, who will 

 treat the sportsman to the best that the country affords. 



Lov, Eli BBUTX 



An Eagle Cahi i bbb a Pikb— Greenwich, Conn., Nov. 16. 

 —Last week Mr. Freeman, of Occuro, while standing by a 

 mill pond near that place, saw an eagle take a large pike, or 

 pickerel es they are called here. The bird swooped and took 

 the fish with its claws, instead of diving for it. The pike 

 squirmed ami twisted bo that the eagle, which had at onee 



hsdtoletgo its grip. The fish fell and the 



bird at once flew after it, pounced upon it, and, taking it 

 again in its talons, shot up into the air to a lofty height, 

 Then, undoubtedly from its own accord, the osprey let the 

 flsh fall and followed it. The long fall of course killed the 

 fish, and the eagle then picked it up and flew away.— W, 



Wisconsin Notes— Menomonee, Wis., Nov. 14.— Just 

 think of a rain-storm that has never once let up since — let's 

 see, since— well, that has hardly ever letup, since the chicken- 

 shooiing season opened, Aug. 15. Rain, rain, week in, week 

 out, n ' snowing now, just think, I say. of that, and then 

 expect sporting news if you can. The ducks have civen us 

 the most complete surprise party of the season. The con- 

 tinual rain-fall swelled the slreams till the Chippewa "ran 

 over," inundating whole farms and chiving families from 

 home to seek safety on higher grounds. Slacks of hay and 

 sheaves of grain floated here and there, while bending and 

 nodding to the surging waters Blood fields of ripe corn, in 

 which mu'tiiudes of mallards floated and feasted. Many 

 hundreds of mallards werekdled.'^One incident— Dr. Granuis 

 started merrily, singing cheerily, gazed at the thousands of 

 circling ducks wonderiiudy, stalked through the water 

 bravely, stumbled fearfully, got, welted thoroughly, dis- 

 charged his gun underwater accident ly, it bursted immedi- 

 ately, and was ruined completely. The dog poisoner has 

 secured enough victims to satisfy the most exacting. Several 

 valuable dogs have recently been poisoned, of which three 

 have died. Sam McKahau's old pointer, Dxk, died lately 

 from the effects of a pistol wound, given by some smart 

 Aleck. Dick hsd hunted faithfully during* ten seasons. 

 Rifles are now in great demand. Deer and bear appear to he 

 plentiful enough to furnish our hunters much sport. Veni- 

 son is now arriving in market; and last week I saw the car- 

 cass of a bear, weighing about 300 pounds, that was killed 

 within a few miles of here. Wolves are killing sheep in this 

 vicinity, foxes are barking and wild cats are Equalling. Plenty 

 of sport here for one who has time to seek it. Id u. 



A Pennsylvania Woodcock Score — Rush, Pa., Nov. 

 10. — 1 break my own dogs and take pride and pleasure in the 

 pastime. Wednesday morning, Nov. 2, dawned, not bright 

 and clear, but with a " mist on the mountain" and a threaf- 

 ning sky. Nevertheless an hour's drive took me to an alder 

 coppice six miles away, in which I knew a brood of wood- 

 cock had been hatched and reared. With Snap, my six- 

 months' old red Irish setter at my heels, who never saw a 

 game bird untd last July and who never was out with the 

 gun to exceed a half dozen times in all, 1 struck for the thicket, 

 in crossing a bridge, just before reaching the main ground, I 

 cut off my dog in a small patch of willows, and was gratifli 

 to see him on a dead point almost the instant he crossed the 

 fence. 1 quickly followed, and as I approached within a 

 couple of rods up sprang a magnificent cock with a defiant 

 whistle, but dropped to my shot and was handsomely retrieved 

 by my setter. I then struck the main ground, and in two 

 hours — viz., from 8 o'clock a. m. to 10 a. m. — bagged in nine 

 consecutive shots nine cock, shooting at every bird that rose, 

 six over points and three flushed by myself, all in thick 

 cover, which we here think remarkable shooting. I am glad 

 to see the efforts of sportsmen's clubs andsporlsmen generally 

 in behalf of the introduction of foreign game birds, but think 

 in most instances the money and labor could be used to bet- 

 ter advantage and with more satisfactory results toward the 

 distribution of our native birds, say the quail and pinnated 

 grouse for the Eastern and Middle States. The suggestions, 

 however, of a correspondent in a recent cumber to try the 

 different varieties of game birds of China and Japan would, 

 without doubt, prove successful as to some varieties, and 

 would, I think, meet with the approved and hearty support 

 of sportsmen throughout the land. — W. W. MoO. 



To Makk a CnoKE-BoiiE Scatter — Quebec, Can, Nov. 

 li. — Fit/ tor Forest ei/ul Stream: In your issue of the 10th 

 inst. 1 notice in the column devoted to Answers to Corres- 

 pondents that G. N. B., Delphos, Kan., asks how to make 

 his choke-bore gun scatter (I presume he means for near 

 shooting). Let him try this plan. Load with same quantity 

 of powder and shot as usual ; in fact, it he wishes he can 

 use 3 drains powder, 1} ounce shot, but divide the charge of 

 shot in two parts by a thin card wad between. In W. W. 

 Greener's new work, "The Gun and its Development," 

 page 439, he recommends dividing the shot in three parts. 

 1 only divide my shot in two, and find it serves the purpose 

 excellently. I am using a 10-bore — one barrel cylinder, the 

 other choked — weighing only If pounds, built expressly for 

 me, and I am perfectly delighted with its performance. For 

 duck I use 4 drams powder and 1£ ounces of shot, loaded in 

 the ordinary way; but for woodcock and snipe, at reasonably 

 clo:e quarters, dividing the shot is a decided advantage. I 

 was directed to do this bv Lefaucheau, of Paris, France, 

 from whom I purchased my first breech-loader 15 years ago. 

 It was a 16-bore pin-fit c gun, and did good work in its day, 

 but never equal to mv new Greener hammerless gun.— J. N. 

 Gregory. 



Something New in Battkhibs.— Four batteries recently 

 bu It for niem'ji rs of the Kitty Hawk Club, and to be used 

 at iheir grou s in North Carolina for duck and hraut shoot- 

 ing, have some new features which deserve mention. The 



mi st important improvement introduced is in the boxes, 

 which are made of galvanized iron, and are thus much 



lighter, more easily handled, and less liable to he injured by 

 a blow or a jar, than the ordinary boxes of wood which are in 

 common use. Moreover, the boxes are so made as to nett 

 one within another, so that the four, when on the vessel, 

 take up, practically, no more room than t me. The platforms, 

 instead of being one solid piece, or four pieces hooked to- 

 gether at the corners of the boxes, are made in t^o pieers 

 hinged together at the foot and head of IhG box, so that when 

 taken from the water mid on board they can be folded to- 

 gether, occupying but little room. In order to keep the 

 platform firm, two stout iron bars are fastened to rings in 

 diagonally opposite corners of the platform, and these bars, 

 when it is in tuewater, swing.aeross the toot and head, and are 

 held in position by stout hook staples. Thus the p alforra is 

 held stiff enough and yet yields somewhat, to the motion of the 

 water. The box is held in position by Btout buttons attached 

 to the platform, and has a rim which projects an inch or two, 

 thus making the box much drier than it otherwise would he. 

 As at present intended to be used, the batteries are without 

 wings, but material for adding these appliances will be taken 

 South with the batteries. We are inclined to think that they 

 will be found necessary for much of the shooting at Kitty 

 Hawk, and especially for the brant shooting. 



Arkansas Notes— Pine Bluff, Ark., Nov. 14.— We have 

 no game laws in this State, simply from the fact that game 

 of all kinds is so p'entil'ul that it is not necessary to restrict 

 the lovers of the rod and gun. This is the season for deer to 

 run. One day, last week, one of the boys went out, early in 

 the morning four or five miles from town ; took a stand and 

 presently killed a doe. Walking in the direction from 

 which she came, about a hundred yards, he took another 

 stand, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing a buck with 

 head down on a fast run on the trail of the doe. He killed 

 him, pursuing this course: Moving up the trail at the 

 shooting of each deer, he succeeded in killing sis bucks 

 within two hours. This is not au unusual occurrence. Day 

 before yesterday, W. O. Owens, with his Irish setter Fred, 

 killed forty-eight quail from 10 a. m. to 3.-30 i: u. I see in 

 your paper that some Eastern clubs are desinous of securng 

 live quail for restocking their grounds. 1 sec every day or 

 two dozens and dozens of live quail brought in by ur 

 farmers, and I am sure if they were to apply to the prq er 

 party here, he could secure them any number, at a ->w 

 rate. Brant, geese, ducks, snipe, plover and turkeys ire 

 plentiful, while deer and quail aTe too numerous to menti in. 

 We have full packs of bear, deer and foxhounds, a g iod 

 supply of pointers and setters, rubber boots and dug-outs. — 

 Akkansaw. 



New Hampshike — Colebrook, N. II.. Nov. 7. — We have 

 had a very successful season wi h all varieties of game, and 

 as far as non resident sportsmen are interested the season is 

 at an end. Some few are annoying us with proposals to 

 come up and hunt with dogs, saying they prefer that mode. 

 I hope they will not be offended if "liny receive short 

 answers. Still hunti rs will always be welcome, but we do 

 not wish to have men drive away all they cannot kill of the 

 remaining moose and caribou, of which I have taken some 

 five heads at early twilight. No sportsmen have killed game 

 in jack-light this year in New Hampshire, as far as I can 

 obtain information. Ruffed and Canada grouse arc both 

 abundant, and tame enough. I have mid no difficulty in 

 getting five males, with dust shot, for spe liens. One fine 

 buck has been killed since snow camera the Connecticut 

 Lakes. Snow buntings have arrived. — Nei .Norton. 



Wb Abe Glad That We Do Not Live Among Them — 

 Frankford, Pbila., Pa., Nov 6.— Editor FofeMtmd Stream: 

 lama good judge of "pot-shooters," as we have 1 ot em 

 in my neighborhood. We have people, who call th yes 

 men, who shoot woodcock in May, June, July, August— in 

 fact, any time tbey can find them." They kill quail in mid- 

 summer; and kill rabbits whenever they lind ihein. They 

 go gunning every Sunday. They have iio regard for game 

 laws, laws of man, or laws of God. I suppose every locality 

 has this kind of people ; but I think my country can heat all 

 others. We have not very much shooting this fall. Birds 

 are very scarce ; but I believe rabbits are pretty plentiful, j 



Dootor. 



[We extend our sympathy to the Doctor. If we were in 

 his place, we should emigrate to some more favored clime.] 



Tennessee Lite Fowl. — I am surprised to see that live 

 quail have been offered for sale, as the law prohibits the 

 taking of live quail. At this end of the State we have 

 worked hard to get some kind of protection, and I know it 

 is only necessary to intimate to your valuable paper that the 

 law prohibits the taking of live quail. The law is silent 

 upon the subject for stocking purposes, and possibly would 

 be construed as no violation. They frequently are sold in 

 this city, coming from Georgia (where, as I am infoimed, 

 there is no game law), and can be purchased from our 

 dealers— D. 3. D. 



TriE Liff, Station Employees— Lynn, Mass., Nov. 18th.— 

 Editor Fared arid Stream: I notice a communication signed 

 " Colin." I do not know him, ami I do not. like the ileal he 

 gives the worthy men attached to the Life Saving Stations 

 along the New Jersey coast, for I doubt very greatly that 

 their duty is neglected by their attention to gunning. They 

 are bandy, and should be allowed the same chance with the 

 rest of us, who can afford to indulge in the glorious, but in 

 these days expensive, sport. I believe in the regular sports- 

 man's game, every one for himself. If you arc lazy and do 

 not turn out, don't blame the map that has been on the 

 grounds three or four hours before you woke up. So says 

 one who has beeu there, and stayed all night. 



Sotmrb Dbal. \2 



Cahiboi' Shooting at Rangeley Lakes— Bethel, Me., 

 Nov. II. — Mr. David T. Haynes shot a large caribou on or 

 bear the Cupsuptuc River a few days ago. The horns 

 measured some three feet apart, and branched out in many 

 points wonderfully. The meat weighed near four hun- 

 dred pounds. There, being a little snow now on the 

 ground it, affords the hunters fine sport in following up 

 bears, which are being shot or trapped in many pans of the 

 lake country. Caribou, deer and many specimens of smaller 

 game are also being taken. Ruffed grouse are v t ry plentiful 

 this season, aud afford fine- sport to all who desire it. — 

 J. G. R. 



Texas Deep. Law.— The Texas Legislature at its last 

 session amended the deer law, so that it now applies to 

 males, and not alone to females as former! 



