FOREST AND STREAM. 



293 



official publications with the most important contribution yet 

 made »o the petrography of America." 



The country through which Major Powell has passed in his 

 exploration of the Colorado Eiver furnishes a constant succes- 

 sion of the most strangely beautiful scenery. Exploration 

 here, however, is no light task, for Ww, travel by boats down 

 the swiftly flowing stream, through the. deep canyons and 

 over hurrying rapids, is fraught with great danger. The. toil- 

 some experiences of the journey are well told of in the reports 

 of the survey and are often of thrilling interest, while the sci- 

 entific results of the exploration will, when published, be of 

 extraordinary value. Major Powell has devoted much time 

 to the study of the ethnography of the various tribes with 

 which he has come in contact, and the material which he has 

 thus acquired will be elaborated in a future report. Dr. II. 0. 

 Yarrow, it is known, is preparing a paper on the -Burial Cus- 

 toms of the North American Indians, which will appear in the 

 publications under the charge of Major Powell. Dr. Yarrow 

 has had a vast amount of experience in investigating these 

 customs among the Indians of the Southwest, and his paper 

 will be anxiously looked for by ethnologists. 



It is impossible, in the limited space at our command, to at- 

 tempt to give credit for all the good work that has been done 

 by the various scientific men who have been connected with 

 the explorations to which we have referred. We have there- 

 fore been obliged to content ourselves with naming only a few 

 of the many who have assisted in the accomplishing of the 

 great results which have been already attained. Let us hope 

 that the work will continue to go forward in the future as 

 bravely as it has in the past, and (hat the government may 

 continue to do its part toward helping it on. 



A SPORTSMAN'S REGISTRATION 

 BOOK. 



WE are indebted to a correspondent of the Forest a.nd 

 Stream and Rod and Gun for what we deem to be 

 a most excellent suggestion. We might as well remark right 

 here how fully we appreciate the kindness of the many friends 

 of the paper. We are ready to acknowledge the benefit we 

 have derived from the numerous counsels we have received. 

 A proposition is made that we shall keep in the office of this 

 journal a regular book, in which parties who intend visiting 

 any portion of the United States or Canada, for the purpose of 

 shooting or fishing, may re cord their names and their ad- 

 dresses. Our correspondent says : "A man wanting to go 

 to any particular locality and desiring company might enter 

 his name, address and reference, with the locality he proposes 

 visiting and the time he purposes to be absent. Thus auy 

 one who may desire company may obtain information that 

 might not be attainable otherwise, without the expenditure of 

 much time and trouble. There arc doubtless, in this vicinity, 

 many sportsmen who have few, if any, acquaintances, who 

 would be glad to give some small fee to pay for the time and 

 trouble of keeping such a book." As the time and trouble of 

 the Forest and Stream and Rod and Gtjn are quite at the 

 disposal of the public, we shall be perfectly willing to open 

 such a book without any remuneration. We believe such a 

 plan as proposed would be of great service to spoitsmen gene- 

 rally. Few days occur that we do not receive either letters 

 or personal inquiries in regard to the whereabouts of gentle- 

 men. As far as lies in our power we keep track of their per- 

 egrination. It is often difficult to follow their trails. We 

 would not propose, unless parties should wish it, to give in 

 print their names and destinations. Such a book as we are 

 now ready to open at the office of the Forest and Stream 

 and Rod and Gun would be of a strictly private character, 

 and only accessible to such gentlemen as are either known to 

 us or could bring letters of introduction to the editor. To 

 our numerous English constituency, who take long journeys 

 West for the sake of sport, such a book of reference, inform- 

 ing them of the movements of their friends, might be of the 

 most signal service. 



We certainly think, then, that a trial of this method of 

 registration might be of great service, and have opened this 

 day at our office, No. Ill Fulton street, New York, a book 

 for the purposes designated. 



It is becoming for us to say also, in this connection, that we 

 have very materially assisted in designating routes and pro- 

 grammes of sport for veiy many of the foreign gentlemen 

 who have visited America during the past four years. Included 

 among whom are Eosebury Dunraven, J. Shafto Hawks, 

 the Turkish Cousul-General at Boston, the members of the 

 Irish and British Rifle Teams, and scores of others. The citi 

 zms of our own country who have sought and received our 

 personal services are very numerous, and we feel thankful 

 that the thirty years of a somewhat erratic life have not been 

 wholly thrown away, and that the results of many wander- 

 ings over all parts of the- continent can now be put to practi- 

 cal use. We say this modestly : we can no longer reproach 

 ourselves for a misspent life. 



Congratulations. — We extend our hearty congratulations 

 to the New York State Sportsmen's Associations, and to the 

 sportsmen of New York on the excellent representation their 

 interests are likely to receive in the coming session of the State 

 Seuate. Senator Pierce of Buffalo, the President of the Asso- 

 ciation, and Senator Wagstaff of Long Island, one of the stand- 

 ing committee were both on the successful ticket at the late 

 election. We profess to know nothing of the political views 

 ui these gentlemen, but we are assured that the interests of 

 game protection will he worthily represented at Albany. 



) DISAGREEABLE RESTRICTIONS. 



INTERESTING TO SPORTSMEN WHO SHOOT ON THE ST. LAWRENCE. 



Mr. John R. Wiltsie, of Nev, burgh, in this State, presi- 

 dent of the Hudson River Association for the Protection of 

 Fish and Game, has called our attention to what we con- 

 sider a very rigid interpretation of the Canadian laws. 

 Which, being quite important to our American sportsmen, 

 ' we give somewhat in detail. Of course, from his position 

 as president of an association for the protection of game, 

 Mr. Wiltsie has the utmost respect f«r the laws, whether at 

 home or abroad, and is ready to abide by them. 



Toward the close of last month, Mr. Wiltsie, being the 

 guest of H. II. Warner, Esq., of Rochester, on board of his 

 si earn yacht Olive, crossed over from Clayton, N. Y., to 

 Kingston, Canada. The object of these gentlemen in visit- 

 ing this particular part of the St. Lawrence, was to shoot 

 ducks. Fjlly aware that they might be subjected to some 

 inconveniences from the authorities if they shot game with- 

 out permission, they were only too desirous to put them- 

 selves entirely in the right. Treated somewhat curtly by 

 the Custom House officers at Kingston, by payment of $ 1.50 

 they obtained the following permission, an accurate copy of 

 which we give : 



The steam yacht Olive, witti a party of two gentlemen, iiave reported 

 to me, and liave the privilege of shooting on Canadian waters for two 

 weeks, on condition that she (the yacht, presumably,) reports to an 

 officer in and out. every nijut. A. Macai.imfh, 



[Seal of the Port of Kingston.] Surveyor of Customs. 



Now, there is no possible objection to having sportsmen 

 register their names, and even to pay for the privilege of 

 hunting in Canada, but the final clause, the necessity to re- 

 port the vessel " in and out every day," would be not only 

 irksome, but often impossible ; as, in the case of these gen- 

 tlemen, sometimes the w r eather was so bad that after a day's 

 shooting it was impossible to return and report at Kingston. 

 It must be remembered that in case of non-compliance with 

 these arbitrary orders, a penalty something like seizure fol- 

 lows, and the giving of bonds. Mr. Wiltsie, who is well 

 known as a sportsman in this section of the Province of On- 

 tario, informs us that he has been shooting there for fifteen 

 year*, and never knew such restrictions enforced before. 



Somewhat astonished at the course of the Canadian offi- 

 cials, Mr. Wiltsie addressed a letter to the Collector of 

 Kingston, and had the following answer : 



Custom House, Kingston, Ont., Oct. 20, 1STT. 



Sir— In reply to yours of the loth iust., as to a new Jaw supposed to 

 be in force in this Dominion, making It necesBary for person? from the 

 United States to pass through the nearest Custom House and enter his 

 boat?, guns, etc., I beg to state that there Is no new law in force, the 

 notice referred to having been issued in consequence of American 

 spjrtsmen imagining that they can come and go as U on their own side 

 of the Hue. 



If Canadian sportsmen or fishermen enter American waters to shoot 

 or fish they are required to report at the nearest Custom House, and, 

 In default, are liable to have their property seized and subject them- 

 selves to a fine. la fact, cases have occurred in which tin ir boats and 

 goods have been seized for simply trolling In American waters. 



By XL. Victoria, Chapter x, Section 10— All goods imported into 

 Canada, whether by sea, land, coastwise, or by inland navigation, 

 must, be brought in at a port of entry where a Oustain House is law- 

 fully established. 



By Section 11 of the same act— If not so brought in and a permit 

 given, such goods shall be forfeited with the vesael.etc, and the master 

 or person in charge incurs a penalty of $800. 



By Section 2 of the said act, called the " Interpretation Clause," the 

 word "vessel " means any ship, vessel or boat of any kind. 



With reference to the manner in which these acts are carried out on 

 both sides, I further state : 



That on the American side I have always found a most liberal con- 

 struction placed thereon, provided a report Is made by a responsible 

 person and a permit obtained ; 



That on the Canadian side the same liberal interpretation is also 

 placed thereon; 



That owing to the supposition of American sportsmen they can come 

 in here as and when they please, the notice referred to has been issued 

 to prevent misunderstanding, and to compel those who wish for a 

 privilege to obtain it in a lawful manner. 



Your most obedient servant, W. R. Minbate, Collector. 



J. IS. Wiltsie, Esq., 48 Second street, Ncwbnrgh, N. Y. 



Possibly some slight exceptions might be taken at the 

 conclusion of Mr. Mengaye's letter. The Canadian officials 

 may look at the visits of American gentlemen in their 

 yachts rather as directed toward infractions of the customs 

 than of breaking the game laws. Of course the manner and 

 way in which such orders are carried out have a good deal 

 to do with the subject. As the Frenph say, *' It is the tone 

 which often gives the pith to the song." 



»~»^_ 



—Judge Caton, of Ottawa, Illinois, so well kuown as a 

 naturalist, and "whose contributions have often graced our 

 pages, will shortly visit the Pacific coast for health and re- 

 creation. He will remain during the winter. 



VACATION RAMBLES IN MICHIGAN, 

 •WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA.— No. 5. 



By the Editoe. 



A 



The Simmons Shooting Sum.— We wish to call the at- 

 tention of our shooting friends to to the column advertise- 

 ment in our paper of the celebrated outfitting house of G. W. 

 Simmons & Co., Oak Hall, Boston. Some description of the 

 popular shooting suit which this firm manufactures is there 

 given. We have given one of their coats a very thorough 

 test during a recent two months' vacation ramble in the West, 

 wearing it constantly, and cannot speak too highly of the 

 comfort it afforded us and of its perfect adaptation to the re- 

 quirements of a rough-weather sportsman. It will shed ordi- 

 nary showers like a duck's back, but does not fully answer 

 the purpose of a bathing suit. It is practically waterproof to 

 a degree. For convenience in carrying shells and game, it is 

 not excelled, and in the bush it saves many a scratch and tear. 

 We shall never hunt without some suit of this description. 



November 15, 1877. 

 Bretiu!ex : Chroniclers say that the Indian name for Michi- 

 gan is "Michisawgyegan!" Nothing niggardly about the 

 old time aboriginals. They had no more letters in their alpha- 

 bet than the palefaces had ; but they found less use for them, 

 aud so gave fuller measure — more letters to the yard. ''Michi- 

 sawgyegan " means the Lake Country ; a very poetic and 

 proper signification in the vernacular, no doubt, but we 

 modern philologists would expect more liquids (lake, water, 

 liquid) among so many consonants. 



The lakes of Michigan possess a beauty peculiarly their 

 own. One who#as never visited them cannot conceive their 

 charming character. Some centuries ago the entire country 

 was submerged'. After that the water subsided gradually, 

 leaving level benches or plateaus around the margins of many 

 of them, which at the present day mark the stages of their 

 successive recediags; so that nature has really laid out this 

 delectable lakeland with a series of terraces already graded. 

 She lias cbthed their sides and summits with beautiful forests 

 of oak, hemlock, pine, beech, maple, radiant mountain ash, 

 and fruitful hazel. She has encircled each crystal basin with 

 a pebbly rim, and filled the teeming waters with toothsome 

 and sportive fish. Gelid springs gush from every hillside, and 

 the outflow leaps into the lakes in rippling rivulets, or min- 

 gles in fuller and more quiet volume. Deer and wild fowl 

 stroll into the cool of then quiet retirement for refreshment 

 and undisturbed rest. On the lower terrace the sagacious 

 farmer lays out his lines, and behind the shelter of the upper 

 ridge finds security from the northern blasts. Flowers bloom 

 there in an unwonted latitude ; fruits of the orchard and vine 

 redden and grow heavy ; and Indian corn ripens in golden 

 fruition in the warmth which seems more genial because it is 

 so exceptionally bestowed. 



I love the lakes of Michigan in their summer moods ; but 

 when the birds leave in autumn I would fain leave too. This 

 is because I am myself a bird of passage. Others may elect . 

 to dwell there the entire round of seasons through. I cannot 

 condemn their choice. Home is where contentment dwells, 

 and without contentment it matters not whether we abide in 

 snow-clad Michigan or in the balmy "isles of Ind." When 

 my bird returns in spring from restless winter journeyings 

 over tropical seas, I may hope that he will bring back an 

 olive branch as a symbol of some place of final perfect rest— of 

 some Ark-adia, such as I suppose Noah found after the dove 

 came back to him. 



Three months ago, when the little propeller, beneath whose 

 awning I sat, steamed out from under the wood-crowned cliffs 

 of Mackinaw on her regular trip to Cheboygan, the old guns 

 were still bristling on the battlements of the ancient fort, but 

 flowers and shrubbery almost hid them from view, and peace 

 and perfume filled the air. No menacing enemy provoked 

 their fire. They had survived their usef uluess ; but the little 

 garrison had marched away for the hills of Pennsylvania to 

 quell dissension among our kindred. So shall we never know 

 precisely where we shall be called to fight the battle of our 

 lives. The foes may be those of our own household, where 

 the altar fires should burn the brightest and the lares keep 

 sacred ward against intrusion. 



I left Mackinaw with the regret a benighted traveler feels 

 when a passing cloud obscures the moon. The strait was 

 beautiful ; its blue waters were everywhere flecked with the 

 white sails of the many distant vessels that were passing 

 through from one great lake to the other. Gulls circled aloft, 

 and now dipped into the waves. Two or three followed us 

 into the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Here the State has 

 spent much labor and money in deepening its channel to make 

 it navigable for such craft as ours and the many timber rafts 

 and bark boats that are annually floated through to the saw- 

 mills and shipping below. We encountered a jam of logs 

 just above the town, wedged so tightly together that a pro- 

 fane man on board declared we would be jammed before we 

 ever got through! Yet, with boat hook and setting poles we 

 gradually worked our passage, pushing aside the pliant logs 

 and occasionally crowding on steam " jumped" the obstinate 

 ones, forcing the boat clean over them. Once when visiting 

 the back lakes of Canada I remember an exciting occasion 

 when we thus jumped a boom, which, having been stretched 

 across the river and secured by heavy chains, barred all pas- 

 sage. Episodes of this sort are of so frequent occurrence 

 there that the bows of the boats are sheathed with heavy 

 planking to withstand shocks. The great boom-logs lay fully 

 ten inches out of water, and to novices looked an ugly barrier 

 But the sturdy little tug-boat backed off for a proper charge 

 like a war-horse in a tilt, and gathering steam, drove head on 

 and over the obstruction in a twinkling, bravely sustaining a 

 shock that made her timbers shiver. 



Cheboygan is situated on the Lake Huron side of the Michi- 

 gan peninsula, a town of 3,000 people, lying chiefly alono- the 

 northern bank of the Cheboygan Eiver, which, we have al 

 ready said, is the natural outlet of the inland chain of lakes 

 which stretches nearly across the neck from Lake Huron to 

 Little Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. The trout fishing in 

 the vicinity is very fine. Black Creek enters the Cheboygan 

 River from Cheboygan Lake at a point a mile above the town. 

 In this stream ,- in the creeks and streams that enter Duncan's 

 Bay, three miles east ; in the Oqueoc, fourteen miles east ; 

 and in the streams between Cheboygan and old :Mackinaw> 



