430 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Deoimbbk 29, 1881. 



Bhoot jug and grouse are abundant, and die of old age and 

 natural caust s, and are certainly "good for man to eat," 

 then cockers are a plea.' ant Bid in preventing a few from 

 going to waste. Stop the snaring and trapping of grouse, 

 and the clearing of timber, and grouse will always hold their 

 own in spile of the gun or treeing cocker. I have watched 

 this insectioDS where cockers and guns were out. almost con- 

 tinually during the open season, and even some few years I 

 have known them to grow more and more plenty each year. 

 We cm readily perceive that "Ruffed Grouse" is an advocate 

 of Betters or pointers, but we hope be will not show the dispo- 

 sition of the ' ' dog in the manger," and wish us not to use the 

 legitimate cocker because he does not choose to. 



He tiies lo impress upon you that we are " pothunters." 

 'Tis true, that we put ourbirds in the " pot" and do not send 

 them to market, or willfully destroy or let them go to waste 

 by spoiling on our hands. But are we to suppose that 

 " Ruffed Grouse '' has never put any in the pot, or is doing 

 the opposite from what we are with our birds? We cer- 

 tainly hope not. The very best of our honored present and 

 old time sportsmen that have had extensive experience with 

 ruffed grouse all acknowledge that shooting this bundle of 

 witchcraft and feathers upon the wing, or over skillful tree- 

 ing spaniels is as sportsmanlike, legitimate and exciting as 

 any sport with the gun known, and is not "pot hunting" in 

 any form of its definition. M. P. MoKeon. 



LOADING FOR GAME. 



Loading fob Game.— Much diversity of opinion prevails as to the 

 correct loading for different kinds of game. It Is ft subject upon 

 which we would like to hear the experience of gunners.— Fokkst and 

 Stream, Dec. 15, 1SS1. 



No two gunners will agree, probably, as to just what con- 

 stitutes the most killing ch irge for any given kind ef game. 

 in a 16, 13, 10 or 6 gauge gun. 



Of course all will agree that different gauges require dif- 

 fered charges of powder, because what would be but a 

 " squib " in a 6-eauee would be an over-load for a 20 gauge. 

 3£ drachms of No. 1 (fine; powder in a 20 gauge gun would, 

 with a corresponding quantity of No. 8 shot, increase the 

 recoil without increasing the penetration ; besides, the pow- 

 der would not all burn before leaving the gun (which will 

 accouut f or the decreased penetration), while 3£ drachms of 

 No. 3 (coarse) in a 6-gauee gun, with a corresponding charge 

 of No. 8 shot, would be little more lhan a "squib," produc- 

 ing but slight recoil and poor penetration. It is also clear 

 that different gauges require different charges of shot as well 

 as of powder. And to some extent the charges of both pow- 

 der and shot should vary in the same gauge as the sizes vary 

 from fine to coarse. 



Powder and shot should be weighed, not measured, if 

 great accuracy be aimed at; for, bnlk per bulk by measure, 

 the coarse grained powder (No. 3) will weigh about 1-9 more 

 than fine (No. 1), and it will be found about the same be- 

 tween coarse aud fine shot (No. 1 and No.8) - 



In order lo answer your inquiry correctly, or rather with 

 an approximation toward wha*. might be fairly considered 

 the correct loading for different kin its of game, it will be 

 found necessary to take into the account: 1st, gauge of the 

 gun and Its weight; 21, size of the powder and shot ; 3d, 

 weight of the powder and shot, and 4ih, the size and toucb- 

 uess of the aaaie and the distance off (assuming that to be 

 from 35 to 80 yards according to the size of the shot used). 



Keeping these, points in mind, and omitting to particular- 

 ize each kind of garni-, but grouping them according to their 

 size and toughness. I give the result Of over forty years' ex- 

 perience, trusting it may do Eome good aud lead to further 

 and more scientific invest iga 1 ion. 



FOH 10-GAUGE GUN. 



1. For large game, such as deer, turkey, geese, etc., use 

 8} to4| drachms of No. 1 (fine) and No. 8 (coarse) powder, 

 mixed half and half, with two pink-edged wads or one felt 

 wad over the powder, and 1£ to 1| oz. shot, from No. 1 to 

 B. B.'h inclusive, with one Baldwin wad over the shot, the 

 wads in metallic shclis) to be two sizes larger than the gauge 

 of the pun ; in piper shells one size larger if metallic moulds 

 are used in loading, to prevent the bulging and enlargement 

 of the paper shell." 



2. For medium-sized game, such as canvas-backs, mal- 

 lard, red-head, dusky-ducks, widgeon, gadwall, piutail, and 

 birds of that class, when in full plumage : 4 to 4£ drachms 

 of tine and coarse mixed powder, as in No. 1, and same kind 

 of wads; with 1£ to l x oz. shot, from No. 5 lo No. 2 inclu- 

 sive, using your judgment in choosing about the proper size 

 of shot for the kind of shooting, whether canvas-back, etc., 

 on points, or mallard, etc , over decoys. 



3. For small game and birds that usually lie close, such as 

 snipe, woodcock, plover, galinulc (rail), pinna'ed and 

 roughed grouse, teal, summer ducks, etc., etc.: A{ to 4£ 

 drachms mixed powder, as in No. 1, wads the same, with lj 

 to 1| oz. of shot, from No. 9 to No. 6 inclusive, judging al- 

 ways which 18 the proper sized shot for the work in hand, 

 say 9's and 8's for snipe, woodcock, etc., and 7 s and 6's for 

 grouse, etc. 



From a great number of trials it is found that in a 10- 

 gauge gun, 3| drachms of mixed powder (1 and 3), with 1£ 

 oz. shot, will produce the maximum initial velocity and pen- 

 etration of which the gun is capable, and probably will give 

 the best average pattern. 



FOR 12-GATJGE GUN. 



1. For shooting large game : 2J to 3 drachms of mixed 

 powder, Nos. 1 and 2 (Oriental, for instance - ), one pink- 

 edged or felt wad over the powder and one Baldwin over Ihe 

 shot (in all small gauges two wads over the powder increases 

 the recoil and adds but a trifle, if any, to the penetration and 

 pattern), with 1 oz. of shot, from No. 1 toB's inclusive. 



2. For medium-sized gun : 3 to 3J drachms powder 

 (mixed 1 and 2), with 1 oz. of shot from No. 6 to No. 2 in- 

 clusive. 



3. For small game and close-lying birds: 8? to 4 drachm.*. 

 mixed powder (Nos. 1 and 2) and 1 oz. shot from No. 9 to 

 No. 6 inclusive, Si best. 



FOE 14, 16 AND 20-GATJGE GUNS, 



and for medium and small game, load with 2| to 3fj 

 drachms No. 1 (fine) powder, and 1 oz. shot for 14 gauge ; 

 2J to 3 drachms No. 1 powder and 1 oz. shot for 10 gauge; 

 and 2\ to 3J drachms No. 1 powder and £ oz. to 1 oz. shot 

 for 20gauge. 



FOR 6-OATJGB GUNS. 



1. For large game: 4J to 5 drachms No, 3 (coarse) pow- 

 der and 1 J to 1J oz, shot from No. 1 to treble 8 G, using 

 two pink-edged wads or one felt wad over powder aud one 

 wad over shot, two sizes larger than gauge of gun. 



8. For medium game : 5 to 6 drachms of No. 8 (coarse) 



powder and 1£ to 2 oz. shot, from No. 8 to No. 2 inclusive, 

 wad the same as in No. 1. 



These charges may not always produce the greatest in- 

 itial velocity and penetration, but it is confidently believed 

 that, taking into the account the penetration and pattern, 

 Ihey will be found, in the long run, the best and moht kill- 

 ing charges. The impact of three or four shot with less ve- 

 locity will be more likely to kill than one or two shot with 

 greater velocity. It should he borne in mind that there is 

 found to be a difference of from 15 to 25 per cent, in favor 

 of metallic Ehells over paper, in penetiation aud pattern 

 combined. 



Heavier charges have been aud may continue to be used, 

 but the chief result will be more noise, greater recoil and 

 blaek-and-blue shoulders, without any increase of pleasure 

 or bag. D. W. Cross. 



Cleveland, 



AN ARKANSAS GAME COUNTRY. 



IN looking over notices of the many game resorts of our 

 country I Bee nothing from this region, which is, I think, 

 the best of all for general spoil. By this region 1 mean tho 

 lower White River country, or Arkansas ami Prairie coun- 

 ties, Arkansas. The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad tra- 

 verses Prairie county from east to west, making it easily ac- 

 cessible to the Memphis and Little Rock sportsmen, there- 

 fore it ia becoming somewhat overdone. Bui. yet immense 

 quantities of deer, bear, turkey, chickens and quail have 

 been brought to bag there this season. 



But the region for sport par eoxeUence is Arkansas county, 

 immediately south of Prairie county, and lying between the 

 junction of the White and Arkansas rivers. This is a region 

 se dom reached by outside sportsmen, and game of all kinds 

 abounds. The county is about half prairie and half timber, 

 and abounds in nearly all the game found iu any of the 

 older Slates, except ruffed grouse. Here we have bear, 

 deer, panthers, beaver, wildcats, opossums, 'conns, rabbits — 

 two kinds — turkey.", geese, ducks, prairie chickens, quail, 

 squirrels and miuks in great abundance. In December, 

 January and February ducks and geese swarm on the prairies 

 and iu the great bays, lakes and lagoons of the White and 

 Arkansas river bottoms, in countless mdlions ; also sandhill 

 cranes on the prairies in February — all these making a variety 

 of sport great enough to please all 



The large bays and lakes (old river channels) in the White 

 River bottoms, deep, clear pools, abound in black bass and 

 other game fishes, and the beautiful White River, the finest 

 stream on the continent, navigable for 700 miles, contains 

 both these and great blue or channel catfish. The patient 

 follower of " old Izaak" can satiate himself with his favorite 

 sport. 



The winter climate of this region is the finest on the conti- 

 nent ; its people are hospitable, glad to Bee and kind to visi 

 tors. This town of Crockett's Bluff, founded by the de- 

 scendants of the ancient and renowned Col. Davy Crockett, 

 i - the centre of this fine game region. The old town has 

 gone to seed and dried up since the war. but still good ac- 

 commodations can be h«d here at reasonable prices. The 

 old Crockett family is worthily represented by Col. " Bob" 

 Crockett, a "chip off of iheofd block," a pleasant, genial, 

 hospitable gentleman. He has in his possession the old 

 Crockett rifle, presented to his grandfather, Col. Davy, by 

 five hundred young men of Philadelphia, while he was mem- 

 ber of Congress from Tennessee, and oiher mementoes. 

 This old rifle is yet one of the finest deer guns in the nation. 



The best hunting season here is from December until 

 March, and we are sorry to say that they kill deer here as 

 late as April, and then again in June. But l he deer are so 

 plenty that the people are forced to kill them in self defense. 

 (Don't mistake my mi aning, please: deer don't "bite," but 

 they eat up their field peas and watermelons.) But this 

 kind of deer murder should be stopped. Arkansas needs, 

 and needs very badly, sttingent game laws. 



This county is at this time the best stock country on the 

 contiuenl — lliafc is, for cattle and hogs. They neither of 

 them now need any feeding or care, whatever, and generally 

 remain fat the year around. Cattle have the prairies 

 in the summer and the immense canebrakes to wint-r 

 in. Hogs have the immense mast of nuts, acorns, persim- 

 mons and berries, and even this season, when all of these 

 were almost an entire failure, the hogs (great herds of them) 

 are in fine condition — many of them fat enough for good 

 pork. Land is vi ry, very cheap here The climate is as 

 healthy as in aDy of the Western States where the soil is 

 very rich. Crockett's Bluff can be reached by the White 

 River steamboats from Memphis— a very pleasant trip ; 

 boats first-class— or by railroad to De Wall's Bluff and 

 thence to CrockeUs's Bluff by White River boats. 



One firm made one shipment of 183 deer from this region 

 by one boat, besides other game. Byrnb. 



Crockett's Bluff, Arkansas county, Ark., December, 1881. 



FLORIDA WINTER NOTES. 



Jacksonville, Dec. 20. 



FOR three months the weather has been out of joint — 

 cloudy during the day, foggy at night, and anything 

 but seasonable. It has now cleared off, and it is probable 

 that in the future we shall have a dry atmosphere, a bounti- 

 ful supply of sunshine, and the glorious winter weather for 

 which Florida is famous. 



Ducks have appeared in great numbers on the St. Johns 

 river, below this city. As usual, quail are very plentiful in 

 every portion of the State. 



Last week I enjoyed several pleasant visits from the great 

 canoeist, Mr. Bishop, of Lake George, N. T. He is accom- 

 panied by his estimable lady, aud they intend indulging in a 

 boat trip of some weeks' duration on the Indian River. On 

 Tuesday last, too, Dr. Henshall, the great authority on black 

 bass, called on me. He, in company with his wife, started 

 on Saturday for Titusville. On arriving at that point they 

 will take possession of a small schooner, and will devote 

 over Ihree months to a cruise around the coast from Indian 

 River to Cedar Keys. The Doctor promised that he would 

 write up for your columns certain portions of the Southwest 

 Coast that I have not described. 



This city has long been famous for Us superior hotels, and 

 it affords me pleasure to slate that the National Hotel, in 

 Bay street, has been purchased hy Mr. Nathaniel Webster, of 

 Gloucester, Mass., and has been named the Everett. It has 

 been repaired, extended and refurnished, at an expenditure 

 of over $90,000, The house, containing 120 large bedrooms, 

 is supplied with luxurious furniture. The ladies' parlor has 

 been supplied with gorgeous fittings and a grand piano. 

 The house fronts the south, and from its spacious -veranda 



a charming view of the St. Johns is obtained. Nearly every 

 room is supplied with an open fire-place, and the entire 

 house is heated by steam. Filtered rain water will be used 

 for domes' ic purposes. The building is substantially con- 

 structed of brick, and iov the safety of patrons every modern 

 appliance has been secured aud introduced, embracing fire 

 hose on every floor and Babcock fire extinguishers. The 

 hydraulic elevator was built by Moore & Wyman, of Boston, 

 and it is supplied with safety appliances which lender acci- 

 dents impossible The Everett has b en leased by Mr. 

 Everett Webster, of Gloucester, Mass., and Mr. William P. 

 Davis, late of the Carle'on Hotel, of this city. Mr. Davis, 

 Sr., will give his personal attention to the business, which 

 will be a sufficient guarantee that quests will not be disap- 

 pointed. The names of ihe parlies connected with Ihe hotel 

 are: Day clerk, J. W. Potter, late of Highland Home Hotel, 

 Martha's Vineyard ; ninht clerk, W S. Bigelow. late of Sea 

 Foam House, New Haven. Conn.; cashier, W. F. Young, 

 Fitchburgh, Mass.; $3 to $5 per day. From what we know 

 of the proprietors and the superior n Kings w.. can confidently 

 recommend the Everett to the favorable, notice of the readers 

 of Forest and Stkeajm. 



On several occasions we have referred to the advantages 

 of the Southwest. Coast, of Florida as a winter resort for 

 canoeists. Two weeks since Mr. Monroe, editor of Harper's 

 Young Folks, called, and I furnished him with necessary in- 

 formation. He launched his canoe, Psyche, at Ellaville, 

 and descended the Suwanee River. At last accounts he was 

 at Cedar Keys, en route for Charlotte Harbor, Ihe Caloosa- 

 h»tchie River, Lake Ochechobee, Kissimee River, Indian 

 River, and St. Johns River to this city. Ai. Fresco. 



Sanrord, Fla , Dec. 15.— Quail are fairly plenty in this 

 vicinity. There are, to my knowledge, at least four coveys 

 within half a mile from our place, four miles out from the 

 town itself. 



Ducks and snipe are reported as plenty on the river, and 

 yesterday several deer were brought into lown from the sur- 

 rounding country. 



The heavy rains of the past week or so have kept me from 

 taking any trips. 1 have, however, mauaged to get some 

 quail around the place. By Ihe way, I had quite In inter- 

 esting experience the other day. My dog stopped at a 

 clump of palmetto, and I gave it a kick, expecting lhere was 

 a bunch of quail there. Immediately the dog made a jump 

 and hauled out a large skunk. The skunk caught the dog by 

 the mouth and held on. I whistled i ff the dog and killed 

 the skunk. I Ihink there is no danger from rabies iu the dog, 

 as I have had several dogs bitten by skunks with no bad re- 

 sults. Tkctmr. 



LORD DTJNRAVEN AND THE NOVA SCOTIA GAME 

 LAWS. 



Halifax, Nova Scolia, Dec. 24, 1881. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



Sir— In your issue of the 22d inst. you publish a letter 

 written by Lord Dunraven, which is intended as a reply to 

 some remarks of mine, also published in your paper on the 

 subject of his lordship's arrest in Queens county some time 

 since for a breach of the game laws, which requires some 

 comments from me. 



I observe that a Halifax morning paper, the Herald, 

 characterizes his lordship's letter as a "very clever one," 

 and laments that "a gentleman of such distinguished literary 

 ability, and one whose influence in England ia very great, 

 should have been subjected to such an unpleasantness as be- 

 ing arrested for a breach of our game law«, and hopes that 

 he will not give our people a bad name. " * * * * * * 



Now. I have no wish to cast any reflections upon the noble 

 Earl's ability, both us a mighty hunter and a writer of several 

 very interesting works, which I have read with much 

 pleasure, but in this letter I submit that his cleverness is 

 only exhibited by bis aptitude for special pleading, mid his 

 attempts to evade the real points at issue between ub, as T 

 shall endeavor to show. 



His lordship charges me with falling into the same error 

 as be did, in supposing that the game licenses are good for 

 ihe whole Province and are issued in Halifax. I did say so, 

 and I now repeat it, and will prove that I am correct. It 

 will be remembered that I was comb ding the assertion 

 made by his apologist, the New York World, that the only 

 mistake his lordship made was in not taking out a cmnty li- 

 cense, and I stated that no such licenses were issued under 

 our laws. The assertion that the game licensee are issued in 

 Halifax is proved by the fact that they must be signed by 

 the Provincial Secretary and Chief Game Commissioner, 

 who bulb reside in Halifax It is true, as I stated in a for- 

 mer letter, that for the convenience of sportsmen enlering 

 the Province, iu remote districts, a certain number are de- 

 posited with the Clerks of the Peace, or municipalities, from 

 whom they can be procured without reference o headquar- 

 ters- That a license is good to hunt "over the 

 whole Province," as I asserted, is easily proved. The 

 Province is divided, for the purpose of the act, into six game 

 districts, each comprising several counties, over which are 

 appointed a Commissioner and several Wardens. A hunter 

 is allowed to kill in any one season two moose aud one caribou 

 — fix animals in all— so thai it, might/ happen that ho could 

 kill one in each district of the Province under the. same li- 

 cense, taking the precaution to make affidavit before the 

 Clerk of the Peace in the district, to which he removes of (be 

 number of animals he is yet entitled to kill. And here it 

 appears that not having the Act by me when I wrote mv first 

 letter I committed the error of elating that ihe affidavit 

 should be made before the " Game Commissioner,'' a not 

 very material point. Having thus, I think, clearly shown 

 that 1 was correct in my view of the law upon these two 

 points, I pass on to the real question in this case, which his 

 lordship very conveniently winks out of sight — viz., was he, 

 or was he not, guilty of a breaeh of tho game laws of this 

 Province by hunting without a license of any sort ? 



Out of his own mouth I will convict him He says that 

 he "telegraphed to his aeeut in this city (Mr. James Scott) 

 to senu his stores to Caledonia aud obtain his licenses, and 

 he received a reply lhat the licenses would be sent hy mail, 

 and that, acting on tin's adaioe, he /cent into the woods {to hunt) 

 in the full belief that 1m liemxe had been obtained." Suppose 

 that ho had killed moose the next day. and that Bomt thing 

 had happened to prevent Mr. Scott from getting or sending 

 the license (which was really the case), would be not have 

 been liable to a fine for a breach of the Game Laws ? Surely 

 his lordship, as a magistrate, ought to know that he was not 

 justified in hunting under a prospective, and in this case 

 purely imaginary, license. And his excuse that he was ignor- 



