30 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 9. 1883. 



to show that the parties infringing the laws did so in ignor- 

 ance. 



The thanks of the club are again due to Mr. Euclide Roy, 

 advocate, who has given his professional services to the club 

 gratis, for the able'manner in which he has conducted our 

 cases. 



Tour committee regret that the bill for the amendment of 

 the game laws affording better protection to duck and other 

 game during the breeding was not passed last session owing to 

 strong opposition. The great necessity for these amendments 

 is shown by the statement which the chairman of the market 

 committee has been kind enough to furnish the club, which 

 shoAvs that over 1,000 brace of black ducks came to Montreal 

 market during the breeding season last spring. Your com- 

 mittee, however, have strong grounds for hoping that the 

 necessary amendments will be made during next Session. 



The thanks of the club are due to Messrs!" Bover and Monk, 

 who at .great inconvenience to themselves went to Quebec 

 last spring, and in spite of the strong opposition did all that 

 could possibly be done, to have these amendments made. 



Your committer' regret to report that the river Beaudet, a 

 most valuable breeding-ground, has been illegally fished by a 

 notorious poacher living in f lie neighborhood, and that owing 

 to local magistrates refusing to sit on the case and the unwil- 

 lingness of the inhabitants to give evidence, the club have 

 been unable to bring this man to justice, but after some cor- 

 respondence with the Government on the subject, the Depart- 

 ment have kindly agreed to appoint a fishery officer especially 

 for the protection of this river. During the early part of the 

 session, it was reported to the club that Americans are there 

 again using punt-guns on Lake St, Frances, and also killing 

 ducks in close season on the lower part of the lake. Mr. John 

 Morrice, the Guard de Chasse, was sent up and remained on 

 the ground some time, and though he did not succeed in 

 bringing the offenders to justice, his presence put an end to 

 the poaching. This lake, lying as it does between the two 

 provinces, is very hard to protect, as the game laws of On- 

 tario do not coincide with those of Quebec. 



During the past year 116 new members have been added to 

 the list of the club, making at present a membership of 286. 



In retiring, your committee would suggest to their succes- 

 sors the advisability of some amendment to the granting of 

 licences for netting. At present a license is granted on al- 

 most any respectable person's application, and consequently 

 a great number of people have nets set for private, use, taking 

 a large quantity of fish and using only the best. Such people 

 could take all they required by rod and line, and if a charge 

 of five or ten dollars was made for a license the rivers would 

 not be constantly blocked by nets, and the professional fisher- 

 man would willingly pay it. Thus a revenue might be raised 

 for the better payment of the fishery officers, and the pubUc 

 would greatly benefit by the large increase in fish. All of 

 which is respectfully submitted. G. FI. Matthews, Secretary. 

 ' Canadian" 



The Stab Mountain Buck. — The Watertown, 1ST. Y., 

 Times says: "The bearer of the above name was a buck of 

 huge proportions which for six or seven years has been the 

 target of North "Woods sportsmen in the region of Star Moun- 

 tain, near Paul Smith's, but which until last season bore a 

 charmed life, together with numerous rifle balls. Then he 

 fell a prey to the unerring aim of T. Irwin, Jr., of Oswego, 

 who procured his head and antlers, to be beautifully "set up" 

 by a New York taxidermist, from whom he has lately re- 

 ceived the splendid trophy. The buck, when killed, weighed 

 400 pounds, while the average weight of those killed in the 

 Adirondacks is less' than 200. This fellow, with his long, 

 splendid antlers, has long been the much-coveted prize of 

 several New York sportsmen." 



A Jatstuatvy Woodcock. — Locust Valley, L. I. — "Was it a 

 laggard or an early bird? In the second week of January a 

 woodcock was flushed by the spring near our kennels at 

 Locust Valley. Is it not an unusual tiling in this latitude? — 

 Gokdes Kennel. [It was probably a' laggard. We once 

 killed a woodcock in Connecticut on Christmas Day, which 

 we decided to be a crippled bird that had been left behind. 

 Woodcock often reach this latitude as early as February. 

 Some thirty years ago, in Connecticut, we were out on 

 Washington's Birthday, Feb. 22, and found a woodcock's 

 nest with three eggs in it. It was a very early season that 

 year.] < 



A Geotigia Resort.— Editor Forest awl stream: I am in 

 receipt of a letter from Mrs. R. J. Screven, Dorchester, 

 liberty COunty, Ga., offering to take boarders. Every room 

 in her new house has a fire-place. Game in the fields and 

 the rivers would give abundant recreation to gentlemen. 

 Thousands of bushels of oysters lie in the creeks free to 

 everybody. This place is a paradise for sportsmen. The 

 town is reached by railroad from Savannah to Jacksonville, 

 slopping at Mcintosh Station, where parties will be met by 

 Mrs. S. if notified ahead. — D. T. Bunker. (Auburndale, 

 Mass.) 



The Antlers of "Old Alex." — Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 1. 

 — Last Thursday evening a party of gentlemen called on Mr. 

 E. W. Watson and presented him with an elegant gold- 

 mounted Smith & Wesson revolver. Mr. Watson, in return, 

 presented the. club with the antlers of the famous buck "Old 

 Alex.," which he killed in the mountains near Confluence. 

 Both parties were completely surprised, and hereafter the 

 antlers will prove one of the valued relics of the club. 



St. Clair Flats. — Mr. Plumb, of Niagara, Canada, ad- 

 vertises this week shares for sale in a shooting club located 

 at. this famous resort for wild fowl. We. presume that they 

 will readily find purchasers, as this is one of the best locali- 

 ties for game in the West, and we often record the residts of 

 royal sport enjoyed by the frequenters of this sportsman's 

 paradise. 



Kent County Club. — Grand Rapids, Mich.. Feb. 2, 1882. 

 — Officers of the Kent County Sportsmen's Club, of Grand 

 Rapids, Mich., for 1882: President, B, 8. Holmes; Vice 

 President, Harry Widdiconib; Secretary, A. B. Richmond; 

 Treasurer, Win. FI, Calkins, who with the following gentle- 

 men constitute the Boa ret of Directors— Geo. S. Baars, J. C. 

 Parker, Geo. A. Gould, Ed. M. Barnard, and L. D. Follett. 



SUNDAY SHOOTING IN CALIFORNIA. 



Boston, Jan. 38, 1883. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have just laid down your issue of Jan. 2G. containing the 

 Sacramento Bee's comments cm " The Hunter's Train." 



The writer agrees partially with me, but argues that the 

 birds will not be noticeably depleted next, season, and that the 

 Sunday huuter has much to excuse him as Sunday is the only 

 day he can leave his labor and indulge in recreation. Granted. 

 Be* admits, however, that if the same army should invade the 

 quail grounds it might be very disastrous. There is also a 

 hint to the effect "that he who is without sin should cast the 

 first stone." 



In the first place I will "cry pecoavi" and admit that 1 have 

 done more or less shooting on Sunday in California which I 

 can only excuse on the ground that it was perfectly legal so 

 to do, but nevertheless I think it was bad for the birds, and 

 the very fact that I wish to have a law passed forbidding me 

 to shoot on Sunday Shows that I am at least sincere, espe- 

 cially as I am going to shoot in California next winter. 



Locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen is 

 the great fault of our people and legislators, and in no case is 

 this more true than in the matter of game laws. 



There are many tilings which tend to bring about this re- 

 sult, and these have been argued and explained in Forest 

 and Stream time and again far more logically and forcibly 

 than I can hope to do. 



As long as game is abundant the attempt to check the kill- 

 ing of it in any way is looked upon by many as a species of 

 " class legislation." I shall not try to discuss this question at 

 any length. "Ogdensburg" in your last issue has thoroughly 

 gone over the ground and hits the nail on the head. 



I can only argue that it is no more class legislation for the 

 government to say "you shall not 'shoot during certain 

 months" or "you shall not shoot oil Sunday" than it is for it 

 to say "you shall not fire off your gun within the city 

 limits." 



The greatest good to the greatest number must be the rule, 

 and the fact that A B and G lose a certain amount of 

 pleasure has nothing to do with the question, 



It is only when the game is nearly exterminated that legis- 

 lators open their eyes and hastily pass game laws twice as 

 strict as there would have been any necessity for ten years 

 previous, and then, perhaps, they "will spend thousands of 

 dollars in vainly trying to restock the depleted preserves and 

 empty streams. 



" A" stitch in time saves nine," nowhere applies with more 

 force than on the question of game protection. 



California is a new and very large State. Her game sup- 

 ply is enormous, and with a little foresight and care, there is 

 no reason why it should not remain so for many generations. 

 But the very fact that game is so plenty has also made the 

 hunters plenty, and to preserve the game supply strict and 

 well enforced protective laws ate getting to be absolutely 

 essential. 



True, ducks are migrating, but if our friend of the Bee had 

 hunted over the Long Island, New Jersey and Pennsylvania 

 ducking grounds for the past three or four years, I am very 

 sure he would not have advanced the fact'as ah argument 

 that they do not need the same protection as the native 

 birds. 



Again,this "army" dnes not limit its operations to the Ala- 

 meda marshes. It is merely an example of what is being done 

 to a greater or less extent throughout the whole State and 

 through the whole year. Not only Sundays, but week days. 

 Not only during the open season but during the close season, 

 and, of course, the quail suffer as well as the ducks. 



Let me quote a passage from an article written by me for 

 one of the California papers in the summer of 1878:" "There 

 is in Lake county a total disregard of the game laws, deer. 

 quail and trout being killed and eaugiit all the year round. 

 There has been no notice taken of the law prohibiting the 

 killing of does, and great quantities of trout are slaughtered 

 with giant powder cartridges. This vandalism is all the more 

 culpable as it is chiefly practiced by residents of the county, 

 who, as the law was made for their benefit, should do all they 

 can to preserve the game instead of exterminating it." Thi's 

 passage is probably as true now as when it was written, and 

 it wilf apply to every county in the State. I have seen hun- 

 dreds of deer slaughtered for their hides in San Luis, Obispo 

 and Santa Barbara counties, especially in the latter. I have 

 destroyed quail traps in both these counties, also in Alameda, 

 San Joaquin and Sacramento, and I have seen giant powder 

 used in the Merced River, in the Yosemite Valley, by govern- 

 ment officials. These are only a few instances. I have, noted 

 them because they came under my personal observation. 



Sink-boxes, huge guns, night-hunting, immense flocks of 

 stools, etc., are as yet almost unknown to California hunters, 

 nor will this be used so long as the present supply of game 

 lasts. But when the work of extermination is well under way, 

 and the birds begin to get scarce and wild, these contrivances 

 will soon be introduced, and then — well, about that time I 

 shall clear out and take my vacation in Arizona. 



In conclusion, I only wish to say that 1 have not written 

 these lines in a carping spirit, but merely as a word of warn- 

 ing, It will apply, not alone to California, but to most of the 

 Western and Southwestern States. Verbum sap. 



Juris P. 



A sage hen — one who avoids the hawk. Columbus made 

 the egg stand, but Italians of less renown have made the pea- 

 1 1 ii t si ;s ud. These jokes were hatched by the Eceniny font. 



An article from "P.," on the Trajectory Curves of Sport- 

 ing Rifles, will be published in our next issue. 



A CAPTIVE R AIL.- Albany, N. Y., Jan. 27, 1882.— Mr. H. 1. 

 Gardner, of this city, has in his possession a captive rail, It 

 is kept in a cage, and seems to thrive first-rate upon seed, 

 celery and apples, together with plenty of water to drink and 

 to bathe in. It escaped twice by squeezing itself between 

 the wires of the cage, but a netting placed over the wires 

 now confines it securely. The bird was taken Dec. 1, by Mr. 

 Baurhydt, of Catskill, who, from the window of his office, 

 saw it-run across the road. It seemed unable to fly, and was 

 easily caught by placing a hat over it. Do you know of 

 raits being kept in captivity? and if so, will you kindly 

 inform us of the methods that were employed to keep them, 

 the food they will best thrive on, etc.— H. B. D. 



WEIGHTS FOR SINK-BOAT.— Bangor, Me— Can any of 

 your correspondents tell me how most conveniently to 

 weight a sink-boat requiring 200 pounds weight besides the 

 occupant? The boat is built after the plan published by you 

 some months ago, the writer of which then stated that he 

 used four iron decoy.- of 50 pounds each, which is impracticable 

 in mv case, as the boat is to betaken lung distances in the 

 woods, and the weights could not be carried. The boa| will 

 be used in shallow water, not more than 10 to 18 inches deep, 

 about same depth as boat. I want instruction also as to the 

 modus operandi of getting in and out of sink from another 

 boat, wings, etc., being in the way. — A. B. S. 



THE KISSIMMEE COUNTRY.— Our correspondent "Al 

 Fresco" has told us of the bass fishing to be bad on the Kiss- 

 immee River, Florida. The following extract from the Jack- 

 sonville Union, of Jan. 26, corroborates bis statements— or 

 would corroborate them if they needed any additional evi- 

 dence, which "Al Fresco's" statements never do: 



Colonel Coryell, General Superintendent of the Okechobee 

 Drainage Company, who has just returned from Kissimmee 

 City, on Lake Tohopekaliga, relates the following incident 

 which came under his observation, while at the new settle- 

 ment. One morning A. W. W. Brvan, J. M. Depew, C. S. 

 Edwards, and DavicT Mahoue, four workmen, mechanics from 

 Jacksonville, employed on the construction of the dredge and 

 tender, took a small boat and started down Kissimmee River 

 on a fishing expedition. The.y were absent about two 

 hours, and while landing were asked by the Colonel "what 



had brought them back so quickly?" "Why, Colonel," was 

 the reply, "we didn't waut to sink the boat." What do you 

 mean?" "Just look here and j'ou will see," at the same time 

 lifting a. sail that concealed a huge pile of trout or black 

 bass. On bring weighed the Spoils amounted to 307 pounds, 

 good measure. While two of the men paddled the other two 

 were trolling with spinners, with the result mentioned. No 

 bait, dead or alive, was used. Some of the specimens cap- 

 tured weighed fifteen pounds each. Wild ducks are mi 

 meroiig upon thelake, and deer, wild turkeys and other game 

 are abundant. 



THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION— II. 



MOKNLNG SESSION, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18. 



MEETING called to order by the President, andmiuuies 

 of last meeting read and approved. The following 

 gentlemen were elected individual members of the associa- 

 tion: E. I). Richmond and L. G. Rutherford, Hart, John 

 Davidson, Monroe, C. 0. Fitzbtn-gh, Bay Citv; CharJas 

 Jaeobson. SI, Charles, H. D. Wilbe.r. Howell. A. H. Mer- 

 shon, R. II. H. Weidman. W. W. Wicker. A. K. Penny, V. 

 Kindler, Le.mieler Lee, D. R. Brown, John Welch and C. 

 Stuart Draper. East Saginaw. 



The special committee appointed a I ihe las! annual meet- 

 ing to consider the proposition of Mr. Boise, of Hudson, to 

 establish an acclimating aviary and game preserve for colin 

 or quail upon his farm, reported as follows: 



To the Michigan Spoilsmen's Association : 



Gentlemen — Tour committee on gartfe preserves, after a 

 fair and impartial canvas of the benefits arising from a game 

 preserve as proposed by Mr. Boise, of Hudson, are "well 

 satisfied that the proposition is one worthy of due considera- 

 tion by this association. Before we can fake action upon it, 

 it will be necessary to make some provision to defray the 

 expense of the same, and we would therefore recommend 

 that the proposition of Mr. Boise be received and placed on 

 file for the future action of the association. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



0. W". Himjy. Chairman. 



Mr. Highy stated that a committee consisting of President 

 Holmes, Prof, Roney and himself met at Hudson to consider 

 the proposition made by Mr. Boise; looked over the ground 

 and heard liis statement of the advantages of the situation, 

 etc. Mr, Boise proposed to receive and properly care for, 

 during the winter, several thousand colin, if the association 

 or its local clubs would furnish the birds, returning to each 

 club their quota of birds in the spring, to be freed in their re- 

 spective localities. 



Plans for suitable buildings had been examined and ap- 

 proved, but the funds necessary for their erection — about 

 f 500 — were wanting. The committee considered the plan a 

 most important one. and recommended its adoption as soon 

 as the necessary funds could be raised. The report, was re- 

 ceived, and on motion the committee were continued in office 

 another year. 



The following interesting article, by Superintendent Port- 

 man, was then read by the secretary: 



MICHIGAN FISH AND FISHER LES. 



Mr. ■'President Wn& Members Of the Association: 



I hardly understand the limit of pjy power or duty in this 

 paper. 1 had shrunk, in some way, in dimensions, so time 

 your worthy secretary faileel to find me in the distribution of 

 last year's minutes, and but for the eagle-eyed man who occu- 

 pies the chair, and scans with closest scrutiny all the machin- 

 ery of this most excellent organization, the time of this meet- 

 ing would have passed by me unknown. Even his letter 

 cametpiny hand at a very late date, when suffering under an 

 attack df severe and sudden heart derangement, I can there- 

 fore give you but a few thoughts upon this important subject; 



PROTECTIVE LAWS. 



Are the fish and game interests of the State of sufficient 

 magnitude to demand protection better than we now have? 

 By consulting the different statutes now in force, it would 

 seem that they cover with but slight exception all the legisla- 

 tion required upon this subject. I say, with slight exception, 

 for it will readily be admitted that some of our legislation- is 

 still imperfect; that we need a modification ofexistii 

 utes. These will be referred to farther on. Bl 

 ous question. A glance at the fish interests of this common- 

 Wealth, their magnitude is greatly underrated and overlooked. 

 According to the federal census ot 1"" Michigan had nearly 

 2,000 men employed, with 34 tugs. 466 vessels and boats, with 

 an investment in nets and accessories valued at $782,130. The 

 product for 1879 was 24,013,100, having a commercial value of 

 isKlUi'.).-.. Of the catch of the sam • vear ii is estimated that 

 16,000,000, having a value of 8466,000, w,rc sold while fresh, 

 and must have entered largely into home consumption. Over 

 this interest, which is local," there can be no question, it ap- 

 pears to me, as to State jurisdiction. If such question does ex- 

 ist it behooves our legislature to devise some method for its 

 adjudication, for it would be irredeemable folly to allow it to 

 be the sport of circumstances combined with man's avaircious- 



But what of the inland waters where no question of jurisdic- 

 tion can be raised? Of these there are 5,178 lakes, having an 

 area of 712,804 acres, to say nothing of the innumerable net- 

 work of streams which form the sources of our beautiful 

 shining rivers. Not a rivulet, brook, river or lake is capable 

 of furnishing fish life and growth of some variety when prop- 

 erly understood and placed under culture, protected by re- 

 strictive law. Suppose each of the above lakes capab.e, in >■ 

 state of nature, to yield on an average L50 pounds of fond \\><i 

 annually, we will have a product of TT'ijirni pounds, which at 

 5 cents per pound would give the nice little sum of 888,797.50. 

 But will thev not, do they not, vield thnee or even four times 

 that amount; I contend they do, and would be glad if some 

 plan could be devised for obtaining accurate statistics upon 

 this point. There are in addition to the above hikes which were 

 meandered by the UnitedStates survey, perhaps 2,000 which lie 

 within the section lines and «cre not seen by the original sur- 

 veyors. Not even an approximate figure can be made of the 

 Quantity of the tish taken from the rivers and streams of the 

 State, but it reaches no inconsiderable amount. 



It must be seen, therefore, that this "water farm of the 

 people" occupied no small place in furnishing food for the 

 masses. But if I mistake not, it will, in the next ten years, 

 under the stimulus of wise and judicious culture, produce ten, 

 yes, twenty times over its present quantity. The introduc- 

 tion of the German or Leather Carp (Oypriltws OarpiU), to 

 which the Board of Fish Commissioners are burning their 

 attention, will aid largely in bringing about the result. 



Now, is it asking too much of "the powers that be," a pro- 

 vision of law, with methods for its mforcement, to furnish 

 ample protection to all the necessary parts o: this 'water 

 farm:" In my dew whatever invites waste and destruction 

 should be promptly met. The spear in the bauds e>t a man 

 who sees "great fun" in the barbarous methods, should be 

 taken from him, that the tish planted in the waters may have 

 an opportunity to thrive and reproduce their spei leg. Notably 

 is this so in the case of the eel {Anqinl/a Communis) and 

 leyprinaids. The latter at the end ot the first year, where the- 

 water pasture is good for them, will reach a weight of two 

 and a half to three pounds, but they have not laid a single 



