CANOE SKETCHES. 



481 



but demoralizes the poacher to such an ex- 

 tent, that he often gives himself away. 



Another matter in connection with a 

 successful pheasant preserve is the frequent 

 introduction of fresh blood. These birds 

 are prone to atrophy;- and in almost every 

 instance the cause can be traced to inter- 

 breeding. Every individual, or sports- 

 men's club, having in prospect the stock- 

 ing of woods with pheasants, must keep 

 this in view, or disappointment will fol- 

 low. 



Those interested should always keep a 

 few cock pheasants on hand, to exchange 

 with others working along the same line. 

 A good plan is to keep sufficient hens back, 

 for breeding, before the chicks get too old 

 to catch. 



The aviary should be a sine qua non for 

 several years, at least. If Bob White can 

 stand the severe winters of some sections 

 of the country, the pheasant can do so. 

 All the same, occasions may arise when it 

 would be advisable to feed them. Acorns 

 are plenty, and a bonne-bouche, and many 

 a sack of them could be laid by, through 

 the agency of the small boy and a " wee bit 

 o' siller." 



With regard to the severe winters: I 

 happened to be in England during the sea- 

 son of i8qx)-'9I, when the canals and lakes 

 were frozen so that vehicles could be 

 driven on the ice. The snow lay for 

 months, deep on the ground. The fox- 

 hounds were not out for many weeks; yet 

 the cold did not seem to affect the pheas- 

 ants at all, notwithstanding the indigenous 

 birds perished in large numbers. Black- 

 birds, thrushes and rooks were lying about 

 everywhere. 



Some of the suggestions here advocated 

 may be difficult of adoption in this country. 

 I merely give them as based on a wide 

 personal experience, as well as on that of 

 others of like experience, in the hope that 

 those who are interested in the introduc- 

 tion of this magnificent bird may find a 

 hint that may be of service. I don't believe 

 the pheasant will introduce itself here, any 

 more than in England, without help from 

 human hands. It will take time, persever- 

 ance, some money, and that reciprocity, 

 which should exist between all sportsmen 

 and sportsmen's clubs. All such should as- 

 sist the game wardens, in their endeavor to 

 enforce the laws. 



I question the wisdom of a law which 

 prohibits, absolutely, the killing of Mon- 

 golian pheasants, up to a specified date. 

 Much study of the habits of the bird points 

 to the conclusion that such a law will 

 largely defeat its own end. It should rather 

 make it an offence to kill a hen pheasant. 

 At no period after the first moult is there 

 any possibility of confusing the sexes, un- 

 less it be in extreme age, when the hen 

 may, in rare instances, don the garb of the 

 male, and vice versa. Evasion of such a 

 statute would therefore not be easy. There 

 are 2 most essential rules to follow, in order 

 to succeed in rearing pheasants: First, you 

 must first keep down an undue proportion 

 of cock birds. Second, you must infuse, 

 year by year, fresh blood, through the in- 

 troduction of cocks from a distance, by ex- 

 change, purchase or other means. The 

 game hog must be squelched. 



All honor to men like the Editor of 

 Recreation, who so determinedly sets the 

 pace in this warfare. 



CANOE SKETCHES. 

 II. 



E. L. COLE. 



" What's the matter with taking your 

 canoe and going up on the sand bar to- 

 night, after ducks," said Frank, one after- 

 noon in September of '92, as he was passing 

 my window. I was busily engaged taking 

 off a balance, but dropped my pen, thought 

 a moment and replied: 



" All right, when shall we start? " 

 " Any time after 5 o'clock," answered he; 

 and accordingly at that hour I had my 

 work done, the bank locked and Frank and 

 I were standing in the shed where my 

 canoe was stored, debating as to whether 

 it would be easier to carry it to the lake on 

 our heads, a distance of about a mile and a 

 half, or paddle up the river, which would be 



nearly 3 miles, against a stiff current. The 

 canoe was one of the lightest I have ever 

 seen. It .was made by the Chippewas. of 

 birch bark. We decided to carry it, Indian 

 fashion, and after carefully stowing our 

 guns, ammunition, etc., under the thwarts, 

 and tying them securely, so they could not 

 fall out when we turned the canoe bottom 

 up, we hoisted her on our heads, and began 

 the march. 



The boys made a good deal of sport of 

 us, as we started out of town, yelling 

 " Bushoo Neche " and other Indian 

 phrases. 



Once, on the road we heard ahead of us a 

 feminine cry of " Look out! Look out! " 



