<_-* 



248 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 27, 1882. 



THAT GREAT MAINE BEAR HUNT. 



SOME interesting points in addition to the very exhaustive 

 paper of Mi, Page, may claim the attention of sports- 

 men. 



It seems that the bear circled through and about four 

 downs, never going further than len miles' from Dixlield vil- 

 lage, and keeping on the hills and in the thickets of the open 

 country, when he might, by making straight off north, soon 

 have reached an unbroken wilderness for hundreds of miles, 

 and the bear must have known these woods perfectly well. 

 Why was it? 



All the dogs, far and near, were tried in this hunt — some 

 mis of bull, Newfoundland, shepherd, and every description 

 of cur, and all were found to be worthless— sorely afraid. 

 After getting one good look at bruin, they could not be in- 

 duced to try it the second time— if I may except two hounds 

 which followed one-half day only, at.das soon as they struck 

 a fresh fox track, left the bear chase. 



A bear leaves the least, scent, of any large, game, and it 

 takes a peculiar mix of breeds to make a good hear dog. 



This bear had worn his toe-nails all off going in the sharp 

 SHOW crust, and left the bones of the toes bare, so be could 

 not climb a tree if he had wished to. 



Most of the men and boys through the region of the 

 hunt joined the chase. Some' for a day or less, and some for 

 more, and in many instances women and children watched 

 out and got a look at him. 



No one followed the bear of nights, so he got a rest one- 

 half the time. He could not have found a mouthful of food 

 for all those fifteen days and nights, which accounts for his 

 emaciated condition, 



His Bead and legs weighed more than the rest of his body. 

 If in condition, he ought to have weighed at least five 

 hundred pounds. Again he would wait in his concealment 

 until the scores of pursuers had drawn in together close. 

 about him, when all at once, when they least expect it, he 

 would leap out right into their midst, with a loud growl and 

 champing of teeth, and scatter the rabble right and left (none 

 of their legs waiting to see their bodies abused), with perhaps 

 a few random shots from some of the bravest. 



The last day it was evident from the first, the bear was 

 weakening. Commissioner Stanley, and the old hunter 

 iJabb, started him in the morning, Babb being ahead got in a 

 shot of one bullet and two buckshot behind, "then rambling 

 shots all over the hills wherever he went until afternoon, 

 when about twenty men and boys were stationed in the high- 

 way, at a point where the old fellow had frecmently crossed, 

 when all at once, when least expected, he jumped into their 

 midst. Swett, a Carthage man, being ahead, got in a shot 

 that broke his fore shoulder, going through his vitals. Every 

 man and mother's son of them, fired nearly at the same time, 

 lint, strange to say, only this one shot in the shoulder, and the 

 owe got in by "Babb in' the morning, hit him, but the trees 

 for rods around were tilled with bullets and buckshot even 

 for twenty feet up the limbs. This hunt, brother sportsmen, 

 was not an organized affair, but a real "go as you please" 

 concern. But if any of you are spoiling for a 'bear hunt, 

 come down here the' last of May and we can give you a little 

 fun in that line, as well as the largest brook trout in the 

 world, for we have a few more left of the same sort. 



J. G. E. 

 Bethel, Maine, April, 1882. 



Deer in the Sot/therm Floods. — New Orleans. La., 

 April. — A correspondent of one of the local papers relates: 

 'At . :*,. high mound back of the Dunbarton and Lamarque 

 places, called Belle Lsle, it was reported that there were many [ 

 deer in a starving condition, and to save what we could Dr. 

 Campbell and your correspondent started out in skiffs with 

 some of the hands. Belle Isle is about two mdesback from the 

 Tensas and rises above the high water about eight feet, in 

 the midst of a cane brake. Arriving at the mound it was 

 found crowded with cattle and around it a sight the like of 

 which will probably never again be seen by those who 

 witnessed it. In the water the putrefying bodies of over 

 fifty deer were lying festering in the sun, the stench poison- 

 ing the. air for some distance around. The cattle had driven 

 them off the crowded mound and they were lying five deep. 

 Among the cows and pigs seven beautiful wild deer were 

 standing quietly, their large eyes fixed upon the new comers. 

 They appeared quite tame at first, but gradually drew away. 

 With an improvised lariat two were soon caught and put on 

 board the skiffs. They struggled but little, and were in bet- 

 ter condition than would be supposed. The others swam in- 

 to the cane and returned as we were pushing off. After they 

 were taken on board the Susie they soon accepted food from 

 the hand and seemed to become quite tame. 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



\\7"E are having good snipe shooting in Delaware and 



v v _ Maryland now. The. birds are in excellent condition, 

 and lie well to the dog, and in many localities can be seen 

 indulging in their very curious towering nights, which are 

 peculiar to them in the mating season. A female snipe was 

 shot on the Slaughter Neck marshes this week which con- 

 tained an egg so far matured as to require the hardened shell 

 only to be ready for laying. 



On Wednesday last two black hear cubs were killed at 

 Harvey's Lake. Pa. Harvey's Lake is but twelve miles 

 north of Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, and the country round 

 about it is wild and rugged. Deer a' few years since were 

 fairly plentiful there, but hounding has driven them out of 

 the county to a great extent. Wilkesbarre, vou know, is 

 the home of Mr. B, P. Dorrance, who has been instrumental 

 iu greatly protecting the game of Luzerne county and, In- 

 deed, of our entire State. 



Harvey's Lake at one time abounded with trout, we are 

 told, but a very enterprising Philadelphia gentleman, since 

 dead, introduced the pickerel in its waters, and now the 

 trout are worn est Bass have been planted there since the 

 introduction of the pickerel aud fishing for the former is 

 quite good at times. 



The State Pish Commission has just deposited four thou- 

 sand brook trout in Dyberry Creek, Wayne county, Pa. 

 The weather since the opening of the trout season has been 

 entirely too cool for many of" our anglers to be off about 

 their business. This week, however, two or three gentlemen 

 started for "Jim Henry's neighborhood," but we have not 

 heard what success was met, Monday and Tuesday must 

 have been delightful days on the streams and trout" surely 

 were on the feed. 



Robin breast snipe may be expected at least a week earlier 

 than usual this spring. Wo know of no better place near 

 home for them than around about Corson's and Townsend's 

 Inlet. A good stopping place would be at Mr. Theo. Smites, 

 Curlew Bay Club House. Townsend's Inlet. I can speak in 

 high terms of Theodore's prowess as a whister. Either he or 

 one of his men will pilot the sportsman in search of a spot to 

 put up his blind and I guarantee will faithfully attend Upon 

 his wants. 



But few gunners get to Curlew Bay, the place is more 

 frequented by fishermen, hence there is always a better 

 chance of success in the shooting line. Make your start 

 about May 1st to 5th this year and I am sure you will strike 

 both the robin breast and brown back. Homo. 



Montana. — Helena, M. T., April 12. — We have been 



tracing the gee.se and ducks through the Forest and Stream 

 from the sunny South up North, until they have begun to ar- 

 rive here pretty plenty. This country is quite a resort for 

 swans, geese, ducks, and curlew. We have both the Canada 

 and old honkers and a fair variety of ducks, such as mallard, 

 sprigtail, black and redhead, wood, and teal. They all 

 breed here in the low marshes, wdiich abound in warm mud 

 springs, surrounded by willow thickets and wild rye grass, 

 which affords the best secluded resorts. I am told by some 

 who have seen them that both geese and ducks are found on 

 the top of old tree stumps with their nests and young, and 

 after they leave the nest they take to the water 'and follow 

 down the stream until able to fly. Our foot-hills are covered 

 with curlew in their breeding season. When the young 

 begin to fly One can easily fill his game-bag. Our hunting 

 season closed on March 1 except for migratory birds. August 

 1 5 opens prairie chickens, grouse, wigehens, foolhens, pheas- 

 ant, etc. Foolhens arc so called because one can take a stick 

 ten or twelve feet long, put a string with a loop on the end, 

 and by beina' very quiet can get close enough to drop the 

 loop over their heads, and in this manner catch a whole flock. 

 They, like the arouse, are most excellent eating. — W. M. M. 

 [The term fool lien is applied to several species of Western 

 grouse. We have heard sagegrouse, dusky and Franklin's 

 grouse all called by this name. The species here referred to 

 is probably the dusky grouse, Canaee oUei/m.'} 



A Virginia Max who was chopping wood in the forest, 

 was SO excited when he saw a deer near by, that, mistaking 

 his axe for a gun, he slammed it against his shoulder, took 

 deliberate aim at the deer, and sawed away with his linger, 

 vainly trying to pull the trigger. 



AIicuioa:-, ---.VIoiii'h •.--W. C. Sterling has a line Hock of 

 domesticated wild ducks, including the greenhead, canvas- 

 back, black and mallard, also two geese. They are used for 

 have been made over them. 



Florida Notes.— Sapiord, Fla., April 15.— The shooting 

 is about over for this season. Quail mated the first of April. 

 There are still, however, a few ducks left on the St. Johns 

 and on some of the lakes. Alligators and snakes are found 

 in all directions. Turtle, doves afford good shooting. I 

 think it harder to hit them than quail, but of course they 

 cannot be hunted with dogs. A week or so ago a party 

 of us went twenty miles west of here to a small settlement 

 known as Sorrento, where deer are very plentiful. One 

 morning, while on a hunt, Rufus made a fine shot with a 

 Winchester at a deer running fully 300 yards off. The deer 

 fell, and Rufus rushed up to the prostrate form. The deer 

 was not dead, and R, instead of giving him another shot, 

 being highly elated at the apparently successful shot, yelled 

 for the rest of the party, some distance off, to couie and see 

 the deer. The shouts encouraged the deer to ' 'put his best 

 foot forward," and he arose and slowly walked away. Rufus 

 tried to "surround" the. deer instead of shooting him. The 

 buzzards have probably feasted on that deer, as Rufus did 

 not catch him He hasn't heard the last of "his deer" yet. 

 Some weeks ago I found snipe in abundance on the borders 

 of the St. Johns, and I shot the second rail I ever saw in 

 Florida, Are they plenty in any part of the State ? — Trump. 



Ohio Rabbit Hunters. — In the vicinity of Chagrin Falls. 

 O. , during the past winter, the rabbits have been slaughtered 

 by hundreds and thousands, and in the most barbarous man- 

 ner. Men by the dozen have come from Cleveland with 

 ferrets, returning in some instances with as high as one hun- 

 dred rabbits caught in a single day. The Chagrin Falls Fish 

 and Game Club propose that a portion, at least, of this busi- 

 ness shall be broken up. They swore out warrants against a 

 man named "West-lake and another, who were fined five dol- 

 lars each and costs, amounting in all to nineteen dobars. 

 The club has the names of others who have violated the law 

 by hunting with ferrets, and they propose to make arrests in 

 each and every case where testimony sufficient to convict can 

 be procured. 



Decoying Geese to the Dooryard, — Algona, la. , March 

 4. — I have twenty Canada geese that I keep for pets. They 

 are in a yard containing about one-half acre, just south of 

 my house. Going to the door just after breakfast this morn- 

 ing, I thought I heard a strange "honk." I went to my 

 room and took down my gun, put in the shells, and looked 

 out over the yard, when; my geese were "honking" and flap- 

 ping their wings. I soon saw the cause of the commotion. 

 Four Canada geese on their way north flew directly over the 

 yard. They saw my geese and came down within ten rods 

 of my door. I shot one with each barrel, put in another 

 shell, and one of the others came over the yard again, and I 

 shot him.— J. G. 8. 



Manuscript vs. Type. — itisdueto "Wells" to explain that 

 in the manuscript of his "Trip to Texas," issue of March 1C, 

 he used the Latin expression virm xma/is: and he disclaims 

 all responsibility for the term which appeared in the print. 



In like manner '"B.," in his very excellent "Familiar Letter" 

 last week, wrote "sewage system of nature," wnich in the 

 connection is more intelligible than "savage system," as 

 printed. 



Texas State Association.— McKinncy, Tex., April 8. — 

 Editor Fonxt ond stmrm: Our annual State meeting comes 

 off at Austin Mav 39. 30 and 81, June 1 aud 2, holding five 

 da vs. The association proposes to give its influence to the 

 protection of game and fish in every way that it possibly 

 can. There will also be a shooting tournament for live 

 pigeons, clay pigeons, and glass halls. All persons interested 

 in the protection of game and fish are invited to meet with 

 us at that time. Those who prefer to stand before the traps 

 will have an opportunity to enjoy themselves in that way. — 

 G. A. Poote, President Teiaa Sportsmed's Association. 



A St. Paul, Minn., gun firm have a curious pair of deefr 

 horns. They are curled up, twisted down and generally 

 distorted ... to be 1 iirely noticeable at a short dial 



hu md Mttvtr 



Therefore, honorable and worthy countrymen, let not the mean- 

 ness of the word fish distaste you, for it will afford you as good gold 

 as the mines of Potosi.— Capt. John Smith. 



WALTON'S "COMPLEAT ANGLER." 



WE present to our readers the best list of the di 

 editions of Walton's book ever published. It ha 

 compiled by Mr. Thomas Satchel!, of London, who has been 

 for years engaged on a new edition of Westwood '.- 

 fheca Piscatoria." Mr. Satchel! entered upon it as a labor of 

 love, and it will be as near complete, and correct as it, is 

 possible by indefatigable research to make it. He has 

 purchased or borrowed every rare book that ti ■. 

 angliag which love or monev could obtaiu. and the British 

 Museum has been carefully searched for treasure: 

 might have eluded others." The list of Walton's editions, 

 which he kindly sends us in manuscript, shows how 

 fully the work ha* been done, and we print it, knowing that 

 it will be of great interest, not only to the collector of differ- 

 ent editions of Walton, but also to the general reader. The 

 editions are as follows: 



A SKELETON CHRONICLE OF DATED, RE-DATED AND UNDATED EDITIONS 

 AND REPRINTS, WITH DISSIMILAR IMPRINTS, OP IZAAK WALTON'S 

 ''COMPLEAT ANGLER." 



Date, 



Place. 



Publishers. 



Editors, 



1658 



London 



Harriot 



Author!?; 



1655 

 1661 

 1661 





;_' 



Author 





Marclot; Gape 



.'. 



1668 



" 



Marriot; Harper 





1676 



" 



Harriot 



• » 



1780 



1759 

 1760 





H. Kent 



Moses ' 





T. Hope, etc. 



Hawkins 



1766 





J. Rivington, etc. 



" 



1772 





R. & H. Causton 



Moses Browne 



1775 



'• 



J. & F. Rivington 



Hawkins 



1784 





J. F. & C. Rivington 



tl 



*1791 









1792 

 1797 

 1808 





Rivington and others 



" 



« 



S. Bagster 





1810 









1815 



" 



" 



Hawkins & Ellis 



1822 



" 



J. Smith 



Hawkins 



1823 



" 



John Major 



R. Thompson 



*1824(?, 



London (?) 



Maunder (V) 







1824 



'• 



John Major 



Thomson & fa;jo 



1824 





TefEg 



Hawkins 



1825 



" 



Printed by Dove 



" 



1825 



" 



Pickering 







1826 









1826 



" 



W^o 



Hawkins 



fS2.SC- 



" 





1833 



Edinburgh.etc. 



Chambers a;;,, ulliers 



Hawkins & Reruns 



1834 



London, etc. 



A. Bell and others 





♦183 1 



London 



A. Bell & Slmpkin & Co. 

 Fraser and others 



• ' 



*1834 



Edinburgh.etc. 

 London 



a 



1835 



John Major 



Thomson & Major 



1835 



London, eta. 



Tegg and others 



Hawkins & R'enhie 



1830 



London 



Pickering 



Nicholas 



1830 





.\. Bell 



Hawkins & Rennie 



"1836 



Edlnburgh.ete. 



Fraser and another 





1887 



London, etc. 



C. Tilt and others 







ltSD 



London 



Lewis 



Major 



*1841 





Chidley 





1842 





Washl.oiirno 



Jfajor 



*1844 





Sherwood .v iiov.ver 





1844 



" 



Boguc; Wix 



Major 



*1814 



Manchester 



S. Johnson 



Hawkins & Romilo 



*1K46 









♦1847 



Dublin 



W. Curry 





*1847 



Manchester 



T. Johnson 



'■ 



1847 



New York 



Wiley & Putnam 



Bethune 



1848 









*1848 



Liverpool 



T. Johnson 



Hawkins & Rennia 



*1849 



London, etc. 



T. Johnson and another 





184!)(? 



Manchester 



T. Johnson 



" 



1851 



London 



H. Kent ( iauston 



Moses Browne 



*1861 



Manchester 



T, Johnson 



Hawkins i 



1852 



New York 



Wiley & Putnam 



Bethune 



1858 



London 



Ingram, Cooke & Co. 



"Ephemera" 



1854 





N. Cooke 





1856 



" 



Bohu 



Jesse 



*1857 



Manchester 



Johnson 



Hawkins & .Rennie 



1857 



Halifax 



Miluer & Sowerl.y 





1858 



London 



Gropmbridge 







1859 







"Ephemera" 

 Bethune 



*1859 



New York 



Wiley & Putnam 



1859 



Hamburg 



Solomon 



"Ephemera" 



1860 



London 



Nattalie & Bond 



Nicholas 



1861 





Bonn 



Jesse 



1863 



" 



Bell&Daldy&S. Low 





1864 





Bell cfc'Daldv 





1866 



Boston 



Tifku.ir & Field 







1866 



i* 



Little, Brown Si Co. 



Major 



I860 



New York 



Wiley & Sons 



Betbune 



1867 



Boston 



Little, Brown X Co. 



Major 



1869 



London 



A. Murray 







1872 



" 



" 







1875 





Chatto & Wlndus 



Ivieholas 



1876 



il 



Q. Bell $ Sons 



Jesse 



1876 





E. Stock 





11878] 



" 



Routledge 



"Ephemera ' 

 G. C. Davies 



[1878] 





P tt'arno 



1878 



" 



Ward, Lurk & Co. 







1878 





(;. Bell 







1879 





Pishing Gazette 







1880 



New York 



v Sons 



Bethatte 



1881 



London, etc. 



Routfecige 



"Epheniera" 



[1881] 



Philadelphia 



Lippiucott 

 Strahan & Co. 



Major 



[1881] 



London 



" 



I have satisfied myself of the existence of these eighty - 

 seven reprints, with one exception, by personal examination, 

 There are others, but my attempts to obtain copies of them 

 have failed. Many differ only in the name of the publishers 

 or in the date. Those marked with a star have escaped the 

 notice of -KUis, Pickering, Russell Smith, Bohu ana West- 

 wood (1864) and are here recorded for the first time. The 

 most important of them is t lie Hawkins of I, : 

 are chiefly issues of the Hawkins-Rennie m 



Titos. Satcheli,. 



Science verscs Ltjce.— =The tTtica'Jferai : 



trout-fishing contest was held in Palermo, N. ST., a few days 

 ago, between two parties of ten each, respectively known ass 

 scientific and lucky fishermen. The contest lasted ail day; 

 the lucky men were successful, bringing home 103 trout, 

 weighing" 79A pounds. The other party obtained 32." [To 

 us it matters little which side won. We regard ill such 

 contests as vulgarisms and eomrary to the Bpiril 

 angler. They are as coarse as eating matches, in which the 

 victor is the one who nearest approaches a I _ 

 have accounts of "matches" sent ns. but they seldotu get a 

 far as the- printer. We only publish this one as ti 

 these remarks. We despise all fishing for count and the 

 brag w hieb follows. A well-kept fishing sCoi 



ralue as showing the increase or decrease of llhefish rh 



a term of years, but the angler derives pleasure Iron: an 111 

 and not from the number or value of his ci 



