FOREST AND STREAM. 



73 



IWTR01T TEAM. 



von yds, J"'i '.'K POfl yfls. Tola! 



\ Howard - it 11 11 B9 



it a BlBseli Is a 6 21 



E K Roberts (I i:t in 3J 



MP Thatcher 6 Is a 'i:i 



F "Monrtr.iiiKi v ft t » 10 



W A Whitfelscy 9 14 6 



Totals (in 58 3'i 110 



The second content will lake place on the Michigan side of 

 the river, but the exact time aud place are not yet agreed 

 upon. 



— Zettlers liiile Club held llieir last practice shooting Fot 

 the month rjf August, Tuesday evening, Aug. 27, at the Gal- 

 lery, 207 Bowery. A handsome trophy waa presented by Uie 

 Zetller Eros, to the member who made the most 1-fnrih bull's- 

 eyes in tliesu shootings, or thirty shots. It was won by Max 

 B. Engel, who made twenty-five eyes; ten members of the 

 club were m the twenties close after hhn. Sir. Engel has pre- 

 sented the trophy to the club for competition, same coudii ions, 

 for month of September. The gold medal or " centre badge," 

 which has been shot for every Friday evening, open to all 

 comers, was won for the third time by D. L. Bcckwitb, Fri- 

 day, Aug. 17, and it now becomes his properl y. 



— Company A, Ib'th Regiment, N. G. 8. N. Y., have entered 

 for the third competition for the Nevada Badge and fixed 

 Sept. Glh as the date of shooting. This is the first entry this 

 year. 1 ml ot her entries may he looked for from the 7th and 23d, 

 and perhaps from other regiments. 



— The American team have chosen a new shooting costume, 

 and instead of a quiet suit of green or blue or gray, have chosen 

 a dirty brown, and one of the New York dailies fays very 

 kindly that "clad in the new garnienture, the marksmen look 

 much liner than a group of convicts.'' We would rather say 

 that they would pass for a parcel of bon-tou plow boys. 



— The first practice of the British team on the American 



range last Tuesday showed a team total of 1,542 points ngninst 

 a, total of l,(iiO by the first. American eight. The New Orleans 

 men are working most magnificently, SeJph getting a virtual 

 score of 217 points, though with a bull's-eye ou the wrong- 

 target his actual score drops to 212 points. 



—The Military Record, of Glasgow, Scotland, relates, in its 

 issue of Aug. to, that another death on the. rifle range has 

 taken place at Hawick (near Edinburgh,) last week, when a 

 young man uamed East on, who was iu the butt marking for a 

 comrade of the 4th Roxburg R. V., was shot in the. forehead, 

 death being almost instantaneous. It is surmised that he had 

 been looking out of the mantlet when the fatal shot reached 

 bim. Such events are called '■ accidents," seemingly because 

 they should not happen, but they are the result of carelessness, 

 negligence aud breach of regulations. Target shooting need 

 not be a dangerous exercise. 



— The Royal Artillery and Engineers' Military Academy. 

 Woolwich, has a remarkable cadet tins year in Mr. Codd, s >n 

 of a clergyman. He has headed the list by nearly 2,000 marks, 

 and also Carried off the eight best prizes, besides the sword 

 given by Lord Napier for the best essay on the Waterloo 

 campaign. 



—The greed of the owner of adjacent land at Creedmoor 

 has induced the abandonment of the 1,200 yards match from 

 the fall meeting programme. 



—Reports from the Montreal Rifle Meeting show that. 

 Homer Usher, the New York representative, is doing good 

 work there. 



jnQ mid 



nin. 



GAME IN SEASON FOR AUGUST. 



Woodeoe.k. Philohela minor. Red-backed sandpiper.or ox-bird 



Black-bellied plover, ox-eye, Sqna- Tnn.,a oinpricana 



tarda lirhUica. Great marbled godwit, or martin, 



Rim? pln'.'.-i ■.',■,.,'',-/.: .'■<.'."■'', ■• ',<«;."«!!. ■'''<'<."(■ 



Vmattt-x. Willet, 'J'olauus semipalmatnx. 



sJiii or Ions-shanks, Himanlopus Tattler, Tokuam 'ineUutolnw:us. 



nigrieoUis • Yellow-shanks, Totanus ilavipet. 



Red-breasted snipe or dowitcher, 



Mwsror Uamphiix gritteun. 



"Bay birds " generally, including various species of plover, sand- 

 piper, 

 etc , c 

 permit _ 



rS'Tlie frequent alteration of game laws makes such con- 

 fusion that sportsmen are kept quite in the dark as to when 

 shooting on various kinds of game is permitted. We there- 

 fore append the following table for reference : 



"Bay birds " "fiur-ral lv, laeaiiims vsr;nua spteies oi piovei, simu- 

 liper snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, surf birds, ptialaropes, avocet*, 

 tc. coming under the group Liviacolm or Shore Birds. Many States 

 lerrnit. prairie fowl (pinnated grouse) shooting after August 15th. 



States 1 



til 



lad.... 



Iowa,. 

 Mian... 

 Wis .... 



Net).... 



Sep 1 to Jan 15 

 Oct l to Feb l 

 Aug 15 to Dec! 

 Aug 14 to Oct 1 

 Aug 15 tONoV II- 

 No Shooting 



Kans...'Aug 1 t o Feb ) 



Oct 1 to Feb 1 Oct 1 to Feb 1 

 Novl to Jau l.Novl to Jan 1 

 Sep 12 to DeclD Oct 1 to Jan 1 



iep 1 to Dec 1 

 iep 10 to Jau 1 

 >to Shooting. 



Sep 1 to Dec 1 

 Sep 15 to Jan 1 

 No Shooting 

 Oct 1 to Jan 1 



Woodcock. 



Sept l to Jau 15 

 July 1 to Jan 1 

 July 1 to Jan I 

 July 3 to Novl 

 July i to Nov IS 

 No liestrio- 

 tious. 



A law was passed in Nebraska last February, prohibiting 

 the shooting of any kinds of wild bird except waterfowl, 

 enipe, waders and woodcock. No close season is specified for 

 woodcock. 



Table of Charges Confirmed.— I see in your Aug. 16th 

 number the report by B. R. B., of Galveston in reference to 

 the charges he uses in his two guns— Nos. 12 and 6 bores, the 

 former choke, the latter cylinder and muzzle-loader, and I am 

 much obliged to bim tor it. 



1 take no special interest in any particular size or kind of 

 gun, but hold them all up alike for experiments and general 

 deductions. I hope my intended impartiality in what I have 

 to say may prove the more useful to the public. Nor do I 

 contend that any two guns require the same charges. They 

 differ as our wat'ehes do, yet the best guns run nearly alike in 

 charges, and so much so that a system of charges may be set 

 down for them with the greatest utility to the sporting world. 

 Especially is this the case in behalf of new beginners with the 

 gup who know nothing of it. The old gunner may require no 

 aid, but the boys and youths are looking after it. Is it possi- 

 ble that after a century or more of practice with the shot gun, 

 and this almost the wide world over, that we are unable to 

 form age neral table of charges for reference and instruction ? 

 Is it possible that ah is indefinite and confusion on this subject ? 

 Cau we not stick a pin somewhere •, if not on the line of pos- 

 itive certainty, then bo nearly along the edge of it as to be use 



ful? I know we can, and without laying a snare to any one. 

 This done, there is yet left time to all who desire a full field 

 for experiments, a thing I cannot too heartily indorse-. 



Speaiking Of bis experiments, your correspondent says : 

 " My Fox t had to target two hundred times, and (mil her bent 

 charges to be:;; drachms of Hazard's No. 3 Ducking, 1 1-H.i 

 OK. of fine shot, or |-j- of No. :; for duck." I will now bring 

 forward from I he "Table of Proportionate Charges" (see llul- 

 lock's "(Gazetteer'), the charge Sflt down for this No. 13 bore. 

 It is :t 1-3 drachms of powder and \<- ; 07,. shot for shooting 

 within , r >0 yards, with the remark in the back that for duck 

 and long shooting this charge may be increased according to 

 the power of tihti gun and the ends to be obtained. This co- 

 incidence of charges is pleasing to learo^ and, I trust, to all. 

 Nothing could be more satisfactory tome or (by comparison 

 with the table) to the beginner with the gun, 



Again he says "My old six bore takes G| drachms of 

 Hazard No. 4 Dueking'and 8 ozs. No. 2 shot.' 1 This is evi- 

 dently his duck load. I now bring forward the charge laid 

 down in the (able above referred to for this same No. (i bore. 

 It is f> ; ', drachms of powderand If for shooting within 50 

 yards, but whkJl el: :r fl \ for du:ks and lender shoctiag may be 

 increased as above slated. Nothing could compare more har- 

 moniously or he more pleasing to learn in reference to the cor- 

 rectness or utility of the "Table" than B. R. B.'s report. I 

 am satisfied from the results that bis experiments have been 

 made with care, and I wish to give him here full credit forthe 

 valuable information he has been pleased to give to the public 

 1 have other like experiments of confirmation before me in F. 

 & S. , which I hope to bring forward hereafter. 



It will be seen in particular that B. R. B.'s loads, the results 

 of long trials as well as practical experience, fully confirm and 

 8gl'< e With the "Table" loads; that they are virtually propor- 

 tionate charges, each bore having a proportionate amount of 

 ammunition. This is just as might be expected where a table 

 is not, only based on true mathematical principles, but is fur- 

 ther fully confirmed by general practice I believe. 



Ma.i. II. W. Merrill. 



item BoeMk, iV. Y., A ug. 22, 1877. 



Chilled Shot.— In the Forest ano Stream issue, of the 

 9th instant, among your Answers to Correspondents Jl noticed 

 oue on the subject of Chilled Shot. Being about t* lay in a 

 large stock for the fall campaign, I thought it advisable, be- 

 fore so doing, to get the opinion of a friend, in whose judg- 

 ment in such matters I place the utmost confidence, anil ac- 

 cordingly received the following: 



Toronto, August 11, 1877. 



Dear B.— You can bet your last dollar on the " chilled " shot. Last 

 fall the St. Clair Flats Shooting Clnrj Used nothing else; and for laying 

 game out stiff in all kinds of stiooting— sky-scrapers, etc.— 1 have never 

 used anything better; and where ihe soft shot goes half way, the 

 chilled goes through. 



The prospects for fall shooting on the " Flats " are of the best. John 

 East tells us the red-heads have bred in large quantities, with the big 

 ducks more numerous than ever ; aud as the grounds will beVell pro- 

 tected ironi outsiders, yye calculate on a few big days. 



Tours truly, Ci. \V. 



The writer of the above has shot ducks for market for 

 years, and is by all odds the most successful duck shooter in 

 the Province of Ontario (if not in the Dominion); in fact, 

 there is no better man in a "mash," and has killed on those 

 same " Flats," on an average, about 1,000 ducks every 

 autumn for the last twelve or fourteen years, so that his opin- 

 ion should have some weight. Venator. 



Mars/tall, Texan, Aug. 18, 1877. 



Plxnt, the Yoi'ngee, as a Hunter.— Chancing to pick up 

 a volume of Pliny, I read a letter from him to his friend Cor- 

 nelius Tacitus, the great statesman of that time, which is to 

 me quite iuteresting, as it is just my idea of enjoyment in the 

 woods. 1 have translated roughly as follows : 



You will laugh, and you may (well) laugh, for I, whom 

 you know, have killed three boats, and, in truth, beautiful 

 ones. You? you say; (yes,) I, indeed, yet I did not depart 

 wholly from my accustomed rest and quiet. I was sitting by 

 my nets, having neither my spear nor lance near me, but with 

 my pencil and note-book I was meditating something, and was 

 writing it down so that if I returned with empty hands my 

 book would nevertheless be full of notes. There is no reason 

 why you should (make fun of) this way of studying. It is 

 strange that the mind is influenced by the excitement and by 

 the movement of the body. The woods about one, the soli- 

 tude aud that silence which is given to the hunter are great 

 incentives to thought. Therefore, when you go out huuting, 

 take my advice, and, together with your lunch-basket and 

 flask, carry your note-book. You will not find that there is 

 any more pleasure in hunting cai the mountains than in study- 

 ing nature. Farewell. 



This is admirable advice to lovers of nature, though given 

 over a thousand years ago ; namely, to take a no! e-book with 

 you while hunting or fishing, and jotdown anything of interest 

 which comes under your observation, it is very pleasant in 

 after years to look over such a book. W. M. 



Parts of a Gr\ T . --Bolts— Irons which enter the loops or 

 eyes of the barrel to fasten it to the stock. Pridle— A pol- 

 ished piece of steel which caps the tumbler, and is secured by 

 sen-ws ; it also receives the scear screw. Butt of stock — The 

 shouldered extremity of Hie stock. Cap— It covets the rain- 

 rod screw, but of course is obsolete iu the breechloader. 

 Casting-oil — The outward inclination given to the butt of the 

 gun, being intended to incline the Hue of the. aim inward. 

 Swivel— -A. small catch suspended from the neck of the tum- 

 bler to receive the extremity of the mainspring. Cock— This 

 is more frequently called the striker, or hammer. Escut- 

 cheons — < >rnaniental pieces of silver to prevent the bolts from 

 defacing the stock when the tUrnscrew or pincers are applied ; 

 escutcheons are also used on other parts to receive initials, 

 crests, shields, etc. Pulse-breech- -This receives the butt or 

 nose of the breech when the barrel is fastened into Hie stock. 

 Fence— The part between the cock and nipple which receives 

 the solid cock. Guards — That which defends the triggers. 

 Heel plate— The plate with Which the butt of the stock is 

 lipped. LocK-plate— Supports the principal works of the 

 lock. Loops— Eyes on the outside of the fore part of the 

 stock which receive the bolts that fasten the barrels to the 

 stock. Mainspring — That by which the tumbler is worked 

 with the cock. Nipple, or pivot — The small iron pillar that 

 receives the copper cap ; the latter, however, is obsolete in 

 breechloaders. Pipes— Tubes to receive the ramrod ; done 

 away with, of course, in breechloaders. Rib— Central piece 

 of iron which unites the barrels and receives the ramrod. 

 Scroti -guarcl -An extension of the guard which receives the 



right hand in firing the gun ; it is now r superseded by the pis- 

 tol-handle slock. Scear— That which catches the tumbler for 

 half or whole cock, on being pushed up by Ihe trigger. 

 Scuar- spring— The spring which holds the scear in the nob I 

 of the tumbler at either half or whole cock Side F.c.rew— A 

 ScreW which fastens ot) the locks. iSight— A patch of metal, 

 usually of silver, placed near the gun-barrel to direct the aim. 

 Spring-cramp- A useful instrument to assist both in taking to 

 piCCf'S and putting together the pai ts of I he gun. Tail, tongue, 

 01 linger -The neck, shoulder, or arch ot loekhammer. Top- 

 rib — This opposes the rib which unites Ihe lower arches of 

 the barrels; when it is veiy prominent behind, il is called 

 Ihe elevated rib. Trigger plate — The trigger woiks in if. 

 Trigger springs— Are small springs met with in all locks, 

 and are Intended to keep the triggers close to the pcear, r l nm- 

 bler— The moveable centre-piece of .1 lock which falls with 

 and is subservient to Ihe cock. Tumbler-screw -This fastens 

 on the cock. Vent-hole— Used only in muzzle-loaders, are in- 

 tended to let out Ihe gas, and Bre supposed to lessen recoil. 

 Worm — The. e en w at the rnd of the ramrod; obsolete in 

 breechloaders. — Land and Water. 



A SeimoiciNO A ccioknt.— Win. Hatdy, of Detroit, Mich., 

 was accidentally killed while on a bunting expedition at the 

 River Rouge. He left home early iu the morning, and about 

 12 o'clock brought up at a small bridge across the river, where 

 he stopped for the purpose of shooting at some fish which could 

 plainly be seeu swimming below. While loading an empty 

 barrel his gun slipped from his hands and lodged between I wo 

 timbers, the muzzle toward him, and in the descent the ham- 

 mer fell and the weapon was discharged. The heavy load 

 tore away the unforluuate mans loft wrist and lodged in the. 

 lower part of his face, mutilating it in a shocking manner and 

 causing instant death. 



How to BrjusT a Gun.— A curious case of gun bursting 

 came to notice a few days since. A.. gentl emah was cleaning 

 his gun wilh a swab and string, when the swab became j. ui- 

 nied, to remove which he took a joint of fishing rod which 

 happened lobe just a twelve-bore, fitting the gun nicely, but 

 the moisture from the swab swelled the end of il, and this also 

 became immovable. Leaving the room for a few minutes, 

 he was startled by a report, and icturned to find his new' 

 breech-loader had become bankrupt, by the swelling of the rod 



Snoo-riNO t'liOM the Hip.— H. L. Bingham, of San Antonio 

 writes.: "Some of your correspondents seem credulous as to 

 accuracy in shooting from the hip. I for years practiced that 

 style of shooting on snipe and woodcock in Ohio and Michi- 



the hip practice. Now, I occasionally shoot with my gun only 

 breast high, and if any one doubts my ability to make a good 

 bag, let him come to San Antonio this fall, and he will find he 

 will have to work to keep even. II. E. Bingham. 



How to Take Eead from a Gtjn Baeerl.— A quick and 

 simple and unfailing way is to warm a gun or pistol bane 1 

 slightly, and then anoint the interior with mercurial oint- 

 ment. In a very few minutes the mercury forms an amalgam 

 with the lead, when it will wipe out clean, leaving the surface 

 perfectly smooth. I have used it for years in all kinds of 

 arms, and it works to a charm. vt 



I We indorse the above.— Ed.] 



Loading Shells.— Loading shells is one of the most essential things In 

 shooting,and no matter how line and costly the gun, or how expert a 

 shot, if the shells are not /properl}/ loaded it will not. shoot the way it 

 should. Mr. C. H. Eitzinann, 943 Broadway, malces it a specialty 10 

 load shells, and any shell loaded at his place can be relied upon. He 

 loads shells for some of our most noted pigeon shooters, and it will lie 

 seen that one badly loaded shell would do much mischief, yes even 

 lose the match. Shells can be had loaded with any brand of powder, 

 soft or chilled shot, and each shell is marked as to the quantity of pow- 

 der it contains, also the quantity of shot as well as the size of same — 

 [Adv. 



Massachusetts— Salem, Aug. 25.— The past week has been 

 very dry. Nothing legal that I can gather from any part of 

 the county. Woodcock and partridges are being shot in spite 

 of the law, and much indifference is manifest, among good 

 sportsmen. Gunners say if the State can serve woodcock for 

 the President, they'll shoot just as they please. Massachusetts 

 Yankees arc pretty democratic. Seriously, I think the Gov- 

 ernor (off hats !) set, us a bad example. Saw first white-wjno- 

 coot off Kettle Cove the 33d, also saw two loons and a largo lot 

 of herring-gulls. Teal. 



Bast Temptdon, Mass., Aug. 29. — Ruffed grouse are very 



abundant here, and promise good after Sept. 1, having been 

 w r ell protected during ihe season. Woodcock are also plentv 

 with no one to bunt them, the former birds being the favorite 

 game in this region. C. E. J. 



New Yokk— South Oyster Bay, A L.,Aug. 23. — Agreeable 

 to promise I report: Got yesterday of local birds- 32 willet, 

 plover, yellow legs aud robins (mostly robins), besides ring- 

 necks and oxeyeg. No flight, nor will probably be any till a 

 change in the weather, when, whoever is on the .ground, prob- 

 ably will have good success. R. K, T. 



Pennsylvania— ILarrMmrg, Aug. 2-1— A fine specimen 

 of the. "timber toorlle"— a full-grown male bird — was shot 

 along the river shore, where the large sewer from Pine street 

 enters the Susquehanna Hiver, Aug. 22, by Mr. Ed. Ivillough. 

 A couple of little gamins, while hunting "'helgromeltes " lor 

 bass fishing, disturbed Sir Phdohela, who took wiug under 

 tlnir very noses and lodged among some hushes a liundrtd 

 yards away. Killough, happening along, took in the situa- 

 tion, sent for his gun and bagged the woodcock. The river 

 is here a mile wide. The bird must have flown from Ihe 

 opposite or Cumberland side of the river, landed on si me 

 grass plots, then reached one of the islands— from whence, 

 after a strong flight of 500 yards, it must have thus reael ed 

 our city front. AoonnoN. 



Mabyl\xb— Arlington, Aug. 2-1, —Woodcock are unusially 

 abundant this season throughout the State. Fit e bags are 

 made by the sportsmen of this (Baltimore; county. 



Kentucky— Louisville. — Plover and sand snipe shooting is 

 to be had at Goose Islands below the bridge. Quail ai c re- 

 ported very plenty in Todd and the adjoining counties of 

 Southern Kentucky. 



