FOEEST AND STREAM. 



455 



Thb Finest Tubkky of the Season.— Messrs. E. <fc A. 

 Robbins, Fulton Market, have this week sent to Allen 

 Gilmour, Esq., of Ottawa, Canada, by our order, one of the 

 finest wild cock turkeys we ever saw. It is the selec- 

 tion of three weeks' consignments, and was chosen for its size 

 and plumage, it being intended for a NaturallHistory collection. 

 Its weight was ponderous, its beard patriarchal, and the 

 sheen of its bronze transcendent. Messrs. Robbins declare it 

 to be the finest specimen received by them in many years, and 

 we feel indebted for the pains they have taken to secure what 

 was wanted. 



Reooel. — A correspondent writesjus the following in regard 

 to some theories of recoil, which have found publicity in our 

 columns, and which theories we by no means indorsed : 



Philadelphia, Jan. 5. 



Editor Forest and Stbeam and Rod and Gun— I have 

 been very much amused at some of the articles on recoil that 

 we have had lately, aud which claim that the projectile has 

 no-influence on the recoil. Have any of our friends ever got 

 two loads of shot into one barrel (in former muzzle-loading 

 days) and not have their shoulder sing out on the subject 

 feelingly? If they will fasten a rifle on a block, attach to it 

 a spring balance made self-registering so as to take the recoil, 

 and then fire it with a bullet, and then without a bullet, they 

 will be satisfied that the weight of the projectile is a very im- 

 portant feature In recoil. N. 



A Question to "Straight-Bore." — Editor .Forest and 

 Stream.— 1 would like to ask " Straight-Bore" why, if the re- 

 coil takes place after the ball leaves the gun, a heavy gun 

 gives, with the same charge of powder and lead, so much 

 better penetration than a light one ? Yours truly, 



Washington-, N. J., Dec. 31, 1877. E. N. Millen. 



Captain Bogardus.— The rervtree of this celebrated shot'at 

 the Tivoli Theatre after his wonderful effort of skill and en- 

 durance drew a very large attendance. Though still suffering 

 somewhat in the muscles of his right arm, during his special 

 performance not a miss was made. The captain broke ten 

 singles thrown from behind the screen ; next broke fourteen 

 balls m the minute ; after that he pulled three balls, smashing 

 them, and concluded by making a neat double. The Tivoli 

 Theatre was crowded on the occasion, and the captain for his 

 Bkill and gallant mien was rapturously applauded. Captain 

 Bogardus will shoot during the present week at the Tivoli 

 Theatre. 



—A correspondent corrects our statement that the close 

 season for quail in Maryland begins Feb. 1. We took our in- 

 formation from tho law as published in the current number of 

 Fur, Fin and Feather, and are indebted to our correspondent 

 provided our authority is wrong. 



» ■»■ ; 



$20,000 CHALLENGE TO BOGARDUS 

 AND DR. CARVER. 



or 100 yards before their reluctance to move was overcome, they gen- 

 erally leaving, as a penalty, one or two of their number behind. 

 Mallard, and several other varieties of large duck?, are quite plenti- 

 ful ; also the diminutive but ever-welcome teal, the above getting in 

 fine condition feeding on the wild celery which grows luxuriantly in 

 these pans. Just scarce enough to make them highly acceptable 

 whenbag?ed, are the Wilson snipe, which are eagerly nought after by 

 San Francisco epicures. Before closing I would state that quail, as 

 usual, are very numerous, and a day among the Arroyas, to the south 



of R , or on the brush plains to the north of the Southern Pacific 



E. R., will generally bring you a well-nlled bag. Unfortunately, the 

 services of our canine friends are not as necessary here as in the East, 

 owing to the generally open nature of the ground, thus depriving us 

 of one of the chief pleasures connected with bird hunting; but since 

 tho brush plains above mentioned are found to abound with the quail, 

 their use and necessity become more apparent. Two Englishmen, 

 shooting for the San Francisco market In the above-named locality 

 with dogs, are reported to have brought in forty dozen as the result 

 of one day's work. As for larger game, our old friend, Uncle P.. was 

 down from Mount San Bernardino a few days since, reporting b'ars 

 scarce, but deer very plenty. Engaged in hunting stray stock re- 

 cently, he had brought down three during the day while in the moun- 

 tain valleys to the south. A regular hunt, with horses and dogs, a 

 somewhat unusual occurrence here, resulted in the capture of seven 



fine deer. J. 

 ^.0. i 



ANOTHER FUSILADE. 



Editor Foebst and Stream : 



Being desirous of giving an exhibition of my skill with the shot-gun, 

 I will offer the following challenges : 1st. I can break more glass balls 

 than any man in the world. (I say this because every one else does,) 

 2d. I can breafc more glass balls than there are in the world at. this 

 present time. 3d. I can break more balls at 25 yards standing on a No. 

 8 wad than any man in the world can at 30 standing on horseback. 4th. 

 I can breakmore Winchester rifles, or rather break moreTjalls with one 

 at 20 paces, than Dr. Carver can at 10 with a bow and arrow. Rhode 

 Istend rules, plung trap ; each manJ;o trap and gather his own balls, 

 Parties meaning business will apply soon, and arrangements will be 

 made ot once with the U. M. C. Oo. for several million shells. Mr. 

 Hobbs will be only too glad to furnish them. 



The Laflln & Rand Co., also Hazzard, Dupont & Dittmar, will go into 

 ecstaises at the mere thought of furnishing free all the powder neces- 

 sary, and Ely Bros, will stand a sight draft for a half ton of pink edge 

 wads. Tathem, Otis LeRoy and the Sparks estate will, no doubt, ger. 

 into a lawsuit as to who will furnish the most shot ; but as this is a 

 matter of no moment, we will not discuss it here. I will say to the gun 

 trades that I have a gun— in fact, several of them— and therefore will 

 anticipate the thousand and one offers of choke-bores, taper-bores, cy- 

 linders and bell-muzzles that are to be made. I shall be delighted if 

 my friend, Geo. Hayden, of Jacksonville, 111., will consent to be present 

 to prevent any " crookedness," and if " Gloan " will be on hand to set- 

 tle legal questions, he will be entitled to traveling expenses and thanks 

 of. H ' 



Philadelphia, Jan. 15, 18TS. 



» .«. « 



SPORTING NOTES FROM THE LOWER 

 COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA. 



Editor Forbst and Stream: 



la the latter part of December, the most attractive sport is tbepur- 

 guifc of wild geese. These are fairly domiciled In the grain fields and 

 water courses of the lower counties, and growing immensely fat from 

 feeding on the young, tender barley. They are approached in the 

 fields by wagen or by saddle, the gunner in the latter case screening 

 himself from view by walking close to the horse on the opposite side 

 from the game. In the warm, sunny hours of midday, the flats of the 

 Santa Anna River are well covered with the immense gray geese, 

 -whOBe summer home is in the Arctic region. There are also the 

 smaller varieties which have neck and wings of pure white. 



Starting out any of these fine winter days, with tower limbs well en- 

 cased in water-tight boots and leggings, with a good breech-loader and 

 retriever, a day can be well spent among the miniature islands of this 

 river. The latter seein specially adapted for the fowler. The current 

 makes Us way in numerous shallows, nowhere over the boot in depth, 

 flowing over a dazzling white quicksand, the latter being not In the 

 least dangerous to traverse, as it rapidly paoks in a hard mass after a 

 few footsteps In the same place. It is on the wide, shallow flats, con- 

 veniently sprinkled with hummocks or miniature islands of tules and 

 bushes, that the geese aud mallards bask themselves in the midday 

 sun. Decoy shooting lor the former has not been practiced here as 

 yet.'bnt as they have their favorite haunts on the river, and as obser- 

 vation has shown me that large numbers will frequently alight where 

 one or two are occupying a favorable position, it appears probable 

 that if the above method was practiced in such localities, with several 

 tame geese as decoys, or wild ones stuffed, great numbers could be 

 shot down. In cruising along the river, flocks are frequently met with 

 whtch cannot be approached unseen. In Btioh case?, substituting 

 shells loaded with swan or buck shot, and emerging into plain view, 

 walking quickly toward them, the writer has frequently got within 60 



Mr. Editor : 



So many correspondents of the great quadrilateral (F. and.S. and R. 

 and G.) have been fifing off their guns at recoil theories, merits of 

 guns, etc, that I feel surcharged myself, and seek relief by firing my 



own g squib. On the recoil theories I simply make this suggestion, 



if recoil does not take place until after the charge has left the muzzle 

 of the gnu, why is it that a rusty or rough bore will kick like a mule 

 with a small load, and no recoil be perceptible after th,e bore is emerled 

 smooth 1 



In regard to altering muzzle-loaders to breech-loaders, any gun can 

 be altered to use brass shells, hut for paper shells the breech of gun 

 must be of a certain thickness. The method proposed by your corres- 

 pondent, S. L. Hart, is defective, as the screw holes in barrels are an 

 element of weakness. The lugs should be brazed or silver soldered, 

 Which will make the joint as strong nearly as the metal itself. Soft 

 solder will not do* I have knowledge of one instance in which the 

 solder gave way, planting the shell In the sportsman's face, and mak- 

 ing its mark for life— happily the eyes were not permanently injured. 

 The gunmakcrs charge from $40 to $100 to convert a muzzle-loader to 

 a breech-loader. What the actual cost of the job is I will not pretend 

 say, but have been assured by an expert that $25 will pay for a first- 

 class job, snail breeches, centre fire, etc. If gunmakers can and will 

 do such jobs for $25, and will let it be known, they may be assured of 

 thousands of good muzzle-loaders to convert. At present prices— un- 

 less a man has an extraordinary fine gun -it will not pay to have it 

 converted, as he can buy a new breecti-loader, of good material and 

 finish, for less than the cost of converting the old gun. If money is no 

 object, buy a breech-loader, and lay your old guu on the shelf. If im- 

 pecunious, let me whisper in your ear that you can make as good a bag 

 with your old friend as with the best $300 breech-loader ever imported, 

 aud if out for an all day shoot, have a lighter load of ammunition to 

 carry. The chief advantage of a breech-loader is its convenience in 

 charging ammunition, and the ease with which it is cleaned. I have 

 both systems in use, and know whereof I write. A new gun e,n be 

 sold at retail for from $50 to $75 that will shoot as well and wear as 

 long as a $300 gun. Any amount above this is simply so much paid 

 for the gratification of the eye, and adds nothing to the real value of 

 the gun. The $50 to $15 gun should have lamiuated steel barrels and 

 fine quality steel locks. Laminated steel will outwear two twist or 

 Damascus barrels. A fine Damascus barrel is beautful, but I have never 

 seen one that would keep smooth inside without the constant use of 

 emery. Indeed, as far as a fine surface is concerned, I think that 

 homogeneous steel, such as Remington puts in his $45 guns, will wear 

 better than the finest Damascus ever made. Will not some one who 

 has the conveniences— Remington, for instance— experiment with 

 homogeneous steel , and rellevejour minds of all doubt as to its strength? 

 Can. barrels of homogeneous steel be made as light as twist or Damas- 

 cus, and stand the same proof charges ? Is there any dinger of the 

 metal becoming crystalline ? A few words as to the case of muzsde- 

 loaders: Always clean your gun before putting it away, and occasionally 

 remove the breeclies and polish the interior with fine emery. If you 

 use the old style nipples, throw them away and buy a pair of reversed 

 cone nipples, you can then use coarse powder, and not be troubled 

 with misfires, thereby making better pattern with increased penetra- 

 tion and less recoil. For a gun to carry all day, use a 16 to 14-gauge, 

 6^4 to 1 lbs. weight. Such a gun, with %\i to 2% drs. coarse powder, 

 and »f oz, No. 8 American shot will fetch anything at forty yards, if 

 held right. A 10-gauge gun would require at least 3% to 4 drs. powder 

 and \% oz. shot to be equally certain at the same distance (both guus 

 to be same style boring), and if of no greater weight the recoil would 

 be demoralizing. Ten Broeck. 



PIGEON MATCHES. 



Same Day— Sweepstakes, $2 each, at three birds, had eight 

 contestants; total, $16, divided— $10 to., first and $6 to the 

 second ; the other conditions as above. 



Williamst 1 1 1—3 Jones 1 1 *— 2 



Broadwnyt 1 1 1-3 Martin • 1 1-2 



Hancet 111—3 Ward 1*1—3 



Giliett 1 1 1—3 Hicks 1—1 



t Divided the money. 



Same Day — Sweepstakes, $3 each, at three birds, had eight 

 contestants ; total, $10, divided — $6 to the first and $4 to the 

 second ; the other conditions as above. 



wardt l 1 1—3 Hance l o 1—2 



Bioadwayt 111—3 Thomas 10 0—1 



Hicks 1 1 0—2 



t Divided the money. 



Referee, Mr. Charles Dexter. Time of shooting, two hours 

 and forty-five minutes. 



Pennsylvania — Gen-mantown, Bee. 26. — Match between 

 Greenwood, of this city, and J. Wistenmeyer, of Phila. ; 21 

 birds, 21 yards. The score was : 



Greenwood 



Wistenmeyer 



Christmas team shoot; 12 balls, 18 yards; Bogardus' trap 

 and rules. Score as follows : 



Karsner 1. n 11111111 1-12 



Edgard o 1 l 0— 2— 14 



Emory l UOlHini 1— 10 



Thomas 10000101110— 5—15 



In sweepstakes, five single birds at 31 yards, Emory and 

 Karsner tied on five ; shoot off won by latter on three. 

 Thomas and Edgard tied on four and divided second money. 

 Match at 25 yards ; Emory and Karsner tied at 31 yards ; 

 Emory won by three. 



"Waco Gun Club. — The "Waco Gun Club shot, Jan. 1, for 

 three elegant silver prizes ; 15 glass balls ; Bogardus' rules : 



GBGerald 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l'l 0—10 



W E Uresop 1 1110 110101110 1—11 



WTLane 1 11 1.1 111001111 1—13 



S A Garland 1 llOOlOlllllOO 1—10 



DrCack 100100111 101110—9 



Sehmid 1 1111110111110 0—12 



Sorg 11 11 11 l 11 0101 1 0—12 



J Thompson o 11000111010111—9 



w S Almond o lililoioiiloi l— 11 



EMcCall 1 0100101111110 0—9 



Ties on twelve for second prize. 



Sorg 1 11 1—4 Sehmid l 1 o 1 0—3 



Ties on eleven for third prize. 



Cresop 1 111 1-5 Almond, 1 1 l o 1-4 



Waco. 



Cincinnati Shooting and Pishing Club — Thursday, Dec. 

 27.— Match at 15 single buds ; plunge traps. Three prizes 

 were shot for— a hunting coat, keg of powder, and a hat. 

 Score : 



W Caldwell 26 yds 1 lllllllllllii i_is 



J A Jones 26 l 1110111111111 1—14 



ii KoQraw 26 oi 111111011111 1— is 



D TDisney. 21 1011111111111 l— 13 



OTopf 21 1 1101111111011 1—13 



P W Reinshagen.21 1 110 111101 OOOOO— 8 



W Y Sedam 26 11 11101180100011—8 



C W Epply 21 110 00010 110111—8 



H J Koch 26 01101111100W 



On tie for third, Disney won on five straight birds. 



Brooklyn Driving Park — Parhville, L. 1., Jan. 9, 1878. — 

 Pigeon shooting ; monthly handicap contest of the Fountain 

 Gun Club for a gold badge. Twenty-four contestants at 7 

 birds each ; 80 yards boundary ; 1\ ounces of shot ; n and T 

 traps ; the club rules to govern. 



CRDurfee 28 yds 1 1 1 1 l 1 i_f 



Miller 21 1 1 1 1 1 1 *_e 



Cleaner 18 1 1 1 1 1 1—6 



Madison 30 1 1 1 1 i_ 5 



DeFraiue 25 1 1 1 1 l— 5 



C Williams 28 1 1 1 1 i_ 5 



Slane ...21 1 1 1 1 1_5 



Waters 25 1 10 1 1—4 



Hempstedt 25 1 1 1 1 0—4 



Walters 25 1 1*10 1—4 



Kace Ill 1 1 1 1 >— 4 



M Williams 18 10 111 0^1 



J White 25 1 10 1 0—4 



Henderson 25 11*0 1— 3 



O'Connor 25 110 10 0—3 



V White 18 110 1 0—3 



Hansen 21 1 00100 l— % 



Messrs. Steele (21), James (28), Hunter (21), Byrne (21), 

 each killed two birds ; Livingston and Sheridan one, and 

 Hawks failed to kill any, 



Mr. Walters, of L. I. S. C, was referee. Time of shoot- 

 ing — Two hours and two minutes. 



Long Island— Dexter Park, Jamaica Road, Jan. 11, 1878. 

 — The regular monthly sweepstakes shooting of the Long 

 Island Gun Club. Sweepstakes, $2 ; nine entries, $18, which 

 was divided into two parts— $12 to first, $6 to second; each 

 to shoot at three birds, 25 yards rise, 80 yards boundary ; 1L 

 ounces of shot, H and T traps ; the club's rules to govern. 



Wiaiams 1 1 1—8 Haucet .....o 1 1— 2 



Joue*t 1 * 1—2 Thomast 1 1—2 



Gfllett 1 1-2 Hicks 1 ♦ o-l 



Wardt 1 1 0—2 Martin - 



Broadwayt l 1 *— 2 



t Divided second money. 



To Color Meerschaums. ^He was a grave man. Wa 

 respected him highly, because we never yet had seen any 

 human being with such a talent for coloring meerschaum 

 pipes. He never talked much, he mostly smoked. He recalled to 

 our mind the party who, when he died, had no one to utter- a 

 good word for him, save one sympathetic creature who said 

 over his mortal remains, "Well, he was a good smoker." He, 

 our own smoker, was not a communicative person ; but, once 

 being out of tobacco, we gave him some Vanity Fair, and won 

 his heart. " I will tell you," said he, between his puffs, 

 "how it is done." He exhibited his pipe. It was maliogany, 

 rich umbre, the delicate tints of Sienna, Vandyke Brown, 

 with a creamy whiteness above that line of demarkation which 

 only the true meerschaum smoking amateur understands. 

 "Impiimis, buy a Kaldenberg pipe," he said. "I have bought 

 pipes in London, Paris, Dresden, Berlin, Munich, Venice, St. 

 Petersburg, but the best I ever purchased were made by Kal- 

 denberg. It is the material, the choice material which Kal- 

 denberg selects, which does it. It is only a silicate of magnesia, 

 you know, and the froth of the sea is fudge. Smoke slowly, 

 and above all be careful. Don't lay your pipe around. A 

 scratched pipe is a horrible thing. It is dreadful to think 

 how dumb people are. Do you remember when folks used to 

 swathe pipes in buckskin, as if they were mummies ? It was 

 all stuff. Now, as to the theory of coloring, your maker boils 

 his pipe in wax; and why ? It isn't to increase the capillary 

 action. That's nonsense, too,. It is done because the Burface 

 of the meerschaum can be polished. The wax is there, and 

 can be burnished, making the pipe glossy. 1 have had pipes 

 of meerschaum undressed, without wax. They were neither 

 good tasted, nor were they ever colored. Now, suppose we 

 take a piece of stone and break it, can you see any prettiness 

 of color or shade there ? Now, take and polish it, and out 

 comes the color. It is the glazed and even surface which, 

 reflecting the light, intensifies the color. Don't you see ? 

 Scratch a fairly colored pipe, and the scratch shows almost 

 white. Of course the oil of the tobacco does come through, 

 which imparts the shade which polishing deepens. Understand? 

 What are you to do ? Why, get a piece of canton-flannel, 

 after you have smoked your pipe, then rub your pipe bowl 

 clean. Don't be slovenly, and leave ashes in your pipe case. 

 Tobacco ash, containing silica, cuts the pipe like sandpaper. 

 That's all. First Kaldenberg, and then a polish. Some more 

 tobacco." Then the grave man lapsed into quietude. After 

 an hour's silence he said, " I never broke a pipe in my life." 

 We must confess that we did not credit this assertion. " It 

 was always other people who did it," he said, reflectively. We 

 hasten, then, to give this explanation of how to color a pipe 

 for those who intend putting their minds to the task, Mr. 

 Kaldenberg says our informant was right both in theory and 

 practice* 



