Jvn* 1, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



847 



FIELD SPORTS IN NEBRASKA. 



THE eighth annual convention of the Nebraska State 

 Sportsmen's Association met at Omaha May 23d, in 

 the rooms of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club, the President of 

 the Association, Hon. B. E. B. Kennedy, presiding. The 

 following clubs were represented by delegates: 



Omaha Sportsmen's, Omaha Workingmen's, Lincoln, 

 Osceola, Bilsby Gun Club of Syracuse, Nemaha County Club, 

 Lancaster County. 



The Lincoln Sportsmen's Club appointed the following 

 delegates: B. H. Polk, T. P. Quick, C. E. Strausburger, 8. 

 F. Bouse, A. G. Kendall. 



Osceola Sportsmen's Club delegates: L. A. Beltzer, J. M. 

 Woods, A. Seager, A. W. Smith, H. M. Sykes. 



Lancaster County Club delegates: A. H. Mendenhall, 

 James Kelley, James Peart, Robert Collins. 



Silsby Gun Club, of Syracuse, delegates: G. Z. Page, D. 

 D. Bray, W. N. Cook, W. T, Pect, F. E. Brown. 



Omaha Workingmen's Club delegates: Wm. Robinson, 

 John Hoyc, Wm. Caruaby, John McDonald, George Jones. 



Omaha Sportsmen's Club delegates: Wm. Krug, George 

 B. Lake, J. H. Peabody, A. S. Patrick, R. N. Withnell. 



Nemaha County Sportsmen's Club delegates: R. W. Fur- 

 nas, W. T. Den, W. W. Browning, J. C. Eberly. 



President Kennedy read his annual address, which was as 

 follows: 



Gentlemen of the State Sportsmen's Association of Nebraska: 

 Custom has made it incumbent upon me to sxibmit to your 

 consideration a review of the past year's experiences, with 

 such suggestions for the future as may be appropriate to the 

 interests of game protection and true sportsmanship. 



Notwithstanding the misguided criticisms of certain over 

 zealous but well meaning persons in their denunciations of 

 sportsmen and sportsmen's association, the grand work of 

 game and fish protection has been materially advanced in 

 the State during the year just closed. These people do not 

 investigate the causes of scarcity of game. They are told 

 that prairie chickens and quails are scarce and becoming so 

 more and more every year. Thereupon they denounce all 

 sportsmen, sportsmen's associations, and the" "murderous 

 shotgun " as the cause. They fail to co sidcr that the in- 

 clemencies of winter, the late burning of the prairies, and 

 the farmer's trap destroy tenfold more of the birds named 

 than all the sportsmen in the United Stales. Nor do they 

 consider that the majority of men and boys who may be 

 seen with a shotgun in their hands are not sportsmen, and 

 do not belong to sportsmen's associations, hut are .aw- 

 breakers an poachers. It is this class that sportsmen and 

 sportsmen's associations seek to restrain in their wanton de- 

 struction of game out of season, by procuring and enforcing 

 wholesome laws against their nefarious acts. But probably 

 the most destructive of all these causes is the late burning of 

 the prairies by farmers. There should be a law prohibiting 

 and punishing the willful or careless setting of prairie fires 

 after March 1. 



The good example of strict obedience to the law by sports- 

 men (and all true sportsmen will obey the law), coupled with 

 an earnest and persistent effort to compel the lawless to like 

 obedience to the law, cannot fail to inspire a respect for the 

 Game laws, as well as for those who aid in their administra- 

 tion. 



So far as it has come to my knowledge violations of the 

 Game laws of the State have greatly decreased during the 

 year. 



Two prosecutions only have come to my knowledge. Those 

 arose in Douglas county and were prosecuted by the Omaha 

 Sportsmen's Club, for shooting prairie chickens before the 

 loth of August, 1881. In both cases the persons charged 

 were fined, and the fine and costs were collected. One, I 

 regret to say, was a member of the prosecuting club, and he 

 was summarily expelled from its membership. The other 

 person was not a member of any club. 



The dealers of game in Omaha are entitled to much credit 

 for the respect they have shown to the law. The prompt ac- 

 tion of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club in causing illicit traffic 

 in game to be punished, the game to be seized, condemned, 

 and distributed among the poor has had a very salutary ef- 

 fect. But I regret to be obliged to report that game in large 

 quantities was openly exposed for sale in the city of Lincoln 

 during^ the mouth of January last, and I am not aware of 

 any effort being made to either prevent it or to punish the 

 offenders. The law is plain and explicit on the subject of 

 unlawful traffic in game, and it is only by a total disregard 

 of such offenses by resident sportsmen that this unlawful 

 practice has been permitted in the capital city of the State, 

 not only this year, but in previous years also. 



It is for the mutual interests of sportsmen and dealers in 

 game that the game laws be strictly obeyed. For this rea- 

 son, if for no other, they should act in • concert in enforcing 

 obedience to the laws for the protection of game. I ear- 

 nestly recommend that an effort be made to form a more in- 

 timate relation between the sportsmen and game dealers in 

 conceited organization similar to that had in Chicago last 

 winter. 



A field trial of pointers and setters on prairie chickens was 

 h' Id at Norfolk in September in pursuance of the resolution 

 adopted by the association at its last meeting. The number 

 of entries was small, but as to quality and performances in 

 the field the dogs that participated were a complete success. 

 The same may also be said of the gentlemen sportsmen pres- 

 ent. The races were well contested, and the decisions of the 

 judges were so exceedingly judicious and correct as to give 

 entire satisfaction to all "parties. The judges, Hon, J. D, 

 Brown, of Missouri Valley; Dr. I. Leas, of Seligh, and Mr. 

 Penne, o. Wisuer, are entitled to the thanks of "the associa- 

 tion for the able and impartial manner in which they con- 

 ducted the trials. 



There is little doubt that the result of these trials has had 

 a great influence in establishing the feasibility of field trials 

 on prairie chickens, and inducr g the Rational Kennel Club 

 to hold similar trials at Fairmount, Minn., in Septtmber 

 next, which bids fair to be the largest, field trial ever held in 

 this country. 



I am constrained to recommend the abolition of the prac- 

 tice of pigeon-shooting at the tournament held at the time of 

 our annual meeting, or, indeed, at any shooting tournament 

 held by sportsmen or imd< r the auspices of sportsmen's clubs. 

 I am satisfied the best interests of our game clubs are an- 

 tagonized by this practice. It is nevertheless true that 

 the shooting tournameut is to the association what horse- 

 racing is to the agricultural fair; both are regarded by large 

 portions of the community as justifiable vices to insure a 

 paying attendance. 



Pigeon-shooting is distasteful not only to a large majority 

 of the community, but equally distasteful to a majority of 



sportsmen, many of whom are also deterred from taking an 

 active part in such tournaments, or even attending them. 



There seems to be little necessity for continuing the prac- 

 tiee, since glass balls and clay pigeons afford an admirable 

 substitute and ample faculties for practice in the manly art 

 of handling the shotgun. 



It is well known that I have been an advocateof the aboli- 

 tion of the practice of pigeon shooting at the time of, or in 

 connection with, the. State Association at all times since the 

 unfortunate affair at Chicago, which shot the National Asso- 

 ciation out of existence. Moreover, its abolition will take 

 from the narrow-minded disciples of the fanatical Mr. Bergh 

 their main stock in trade, so far as the association and sports- 

 men are concerned. I will at all times second all rational 

 efforts of these extreme people in the legitimate cause of 

 prevention of cruelty to animals or human beings, but wherein 

 it is more cruel to kill a pigeon or prairie chicken with a gun 

 than to wring the neck of a spring chicken passes all rational 

 comprehension. Until these very humane people shall 

 devise some method by which they get their loin of 

 beef, cutlet of veal and chicken salad, without killing the 

 bullock, the calf or chicken in cold blood, or, like the chi- 

 merical king of Babylon, forsake, the ways of men and 

 subsist upon grass, consistency should bid them hold their 

 peace, in this regard. 



The financial condition of the association is far from what 

 it should be. There is a deficiency outstanding against the 

 association of $118.40. Steps should be immediately taken 

 to liquidate this deficiency. 



From the best information I have on this subject, this has 

 resulted mainly from the premiums awarded at the bench 

 shows of the two preceding years. The entrance fees re- 

 ceived were scarcely sufficient to pay the expenses of either, 

 and to pay the premiums awarded recourse was had to the 

 funds in the treasury, which exhausted those funds and left 

 an insufficient sum to defray the legitimate and necessary 

 expenses of the field trials of those years, notwithstanding 

 the utmost economy was used in that behalf. For these rea- 

 sons, the executive committee deemed it advisable to omit 

 the bench show this year, or until the funds of the associa- 

 tion shall be sufficient to meet all attendant expenses and 

 premiums in that behalf. 



Inasmuch as the National Kennel Club will hold field trials 

 of pointers and setters on prairie, chickens at Fairmont, 

 Minn. , the first week in September, it may be advisable that 

 the association omit its field trials this year. The Fairmont 

 trials will be worth the while of every person interested in 

 legitimate sport with the dog and gun to witness. Sports- 

 men possessing good-blooded dogs, behind whom they take 

 so much pleasure in the field, should take them to Fairmont 

 and run them. A little careful handling between the 15th 

 of August and the 1st of September, with especial regard to 

 backing and retrieving, will remove all fear of being dis- 

 placed, while a V. H. 0. at those trials will repay the effort. 

 Arrangements will be effected for a reduction in fare and 

 permit to carry dogs free of charge. I can conceive of 

 nothing more pleasing than to witness a contest between 

 those intelligent and faithful animals, and meet with brother 

 sportsmen from all parts of the United States. 



Some measure ought to be devised to prevent the wanton 

 destruction of larger game, namely, buffalo, elk, deer, ante- 

 lope and mountain sheep, in the western part of the State 

 and States and Territories adjacent, and especially by for- 

 eigners who visit this country for the purpose of slaughter- 

 ing as many of those animals as possible for the mere pride 

 of carrying back with them the marvelous accounts of the 

 great numbers they have killed. Those killed by them are 

 left to lie and decay where they fall as a general thing. 

 Other large numbers are killed for their skins, and their car- 

 cases left in the same way by professional hunters. Strin- 

 gent laws should be enacted against the wanton destruction 

 of all game animals and birds. 



It has been suggested that Congress should legislate on the 

 subject. It is very questionable if Congress has the consti- 

 tutional power to either license or prohibit the killing of 

 game within the jurisdiction of a State. It has been repeat- 

 edly held by the courts thai, all animals that are by nature 

 wild are subject to the legislative control of the States. But 

 Congress may regulate or prohibit its commerce between the 

 States, and may properly legislate to protect such animals in 

 the Territories. 



Appropriate legislation by Congress prohibiting persons 

 from killing buffaloes, elk, deer, antelope, and mountain 

 sheep between January 1st and October 1st, or killing for 

 market, or for their skins at any time, making the traffic un- 

 lawful with proper penalties for violations of the law, would 

 have salutary effect, and would aid the States in enforcing 

 obedience to State laws on that subject. I therefore recom- 

 mend that this association memorialize Congress upon the 

 subject, and invite other associations to join in that behalf. 



Gentlemen : Thanking you for the high honor you have 

 conferred upon me by electing me to preside over your de- 

 liberations during the past year, I have only to express the 

 hope that my successor will experience the same degree of 

 pleasure in his official relations with the sportsmen of the 

 State it has been my fortune to receive. 



B. E. B. Kennedy. 



California. Spoilsmen's Association. — Speaking of the 

 convention of the California sportsmen at San Francisco, 

 the Sacramento Be* says: "Some fifteen clubs were repre- 

 sented in the convention, we believe, with a membership 

 throughout the State of nearly 300, There are now few, if 

 any, clubs outside of Sacramento that do not belong to the 

 association, and for the credit of the sportsmen of the capi- 

 tal city we trust that ere long our local clubs will enter into 

 the fold ; otherwise, the loss will be their own. The presi- 

 dent of the association is Senator W. Taylor, of San Fran- 

 cisco; and the vice-president, John K. Orr, is one of the 

 best known sportsmen on the coast. The board of directors 

 is composed of such gentlemen as Crittenden Robinson 

 (chairman), C. B. Smith, Ramon E. Wilson, D. M, Pyle and 

 J. H. Burnett, all gentlemen of the highest standing and in- 

 telligence. The association has shown its good sense by re- 

 taining as secretary J. P. Spooner, of Stockton, who has done 

 valuable service during the past. year. We look for the best re- 

 sults to grow out of this meeting of representative sportsmen. 

 Heretofore there has been no harmony of interests among 

 lovers of the gun and rod. and as a result the game laws 

 have been tinkered at by legislators ignorant of the habits of 

 wild game, until all sorts of abuses have arisen under them. 

 The slaughter of deer in years past for their hides has been 

 shameful, but now we expect to see such action taken by the 

 next Legislature as will, through the aid of local clubs', put 

 a stop to the carnage. The. late convention has outlined a 

 splendid programme for the more perfect protection of game 



and fishes, and if aided by the Legislature the work of de- 

 struction which has gone on comparatively unchecked for 

 the last thirty years will bo effectually stopped. The asso- 

 ciation may rest assured that in the future, as in the past, it 

 will have the aid and counsel of the Bee in all good work to 

 this end. This paper first denounced the action of the 

 supervisors of several counties in giving permission to pot- 

 hunters and scrub shooters to kill deer out of the lawful sea- 

 son, and we are glad to see that the convention took a most 

 decided stand on the question and resolved to demand action 

 by the Legislature in the premises. We congratulate the 

 sportsmen's fraternity of California in having organized so 

 faithful a body as the present association to represent and 

 uphold their interests (which are those of all good citizens) 

 as against a band of plundering pot-hunters and dealers in 

 hides and feathered game." 



BAKING A BIRD IN CLAY. 



THE ?nodus operandi is very simple. Given a bright, 

 camp-fire and a bird in condition, the process is as fol- 

 lows. Make a pliable cake or sheet of clay T large enough to 

 envelop the bird. Let it be about two inches thick. Smooth 

 and straighten out the feathers, but do not pull a feather or 

 "draw" the bird. Pack it tightly in the clay envelope and 

 it takes the shape of, as it were, a smooth, Oblong clay ball. 

 Dig a hole in the earth under the center of the camp-fire, and 

 bury the bird with a covering of earth, ashes, and embers, 

 about three inches deep. 



Do this about 10 P.M., just before you turn in for the 

 night. If you are a genuine woodsman, you are supposed 

 to keep a lively fire all night, and to turn out before daylight 

 in the morning; stir up the fire, start your coffee or tea, and 

 potatoes, if you have any; go down to the icy spring, give 

 your face and hands a cold rinse, dig into your outer cover- 

 ing for that three-inch bit of broken horn comb, unsnarl your 

 hair and whiskers some. Finish off by a concluding wipe 

 with the. limp towel that came in around a large loaf of 

 bread and a supply of killikinnick, and then go back to 

 camp and "haul" your bird. You will find him represented 

 by a lump of cracked, hard-baked clay, which, pulled off 

 piecemeal, takes feathers and skin clean away, leaving the 

 well-cooked body of the bird in its naked beauty, with all 

 his gamy flavor and native aroma held in and preserved. 

 Lay the body tenderly on the fragrant section of fresh-peeled 

 bark which serves you for a plate, get out your potatoes, 

 bread, butter, coffee, etc., and then settle down to a break- 

 fast that you will remember long after you have left camp 

 and gone back to the yoke and short-tug-harness of civiliza- 

 tion. You eat him with your pocketknife and a birch fork 

 as table implements, and fine salt, black, white, or cayenne 

 pepper for seasoning. When you have finished, throw the 

 "krang" to vour dog. You have eaten, but have not drawn 

 the bird. There may be "innards," but you have not seen 

 them. You don't want them anyway. You have found the 

 true flavor of grouse or duck, as you could find it in no other 

 way ; and you will come at last to cook all fish of over two 

 pounds weight, and all game birds as large as a grouse or 

 teal, in this same way — when you are not too lazy. 



Usually, unless 1 have more than one bird, I get so 

 blessed hungry that I can't wait for the above process. 

 Then I dress him, swing him before a lively fire with a piece 

 of moosewood bark, a strip of fat pork between his legs, and 

 roast him. Any bird is good that way — if any. 



Nessmuk. 



Leather-Stocking Club.— Oswego. N.Y., May 27, 1882. 

 — At a special meeting of the Leather-Stocking Club last Fri- 

 day evening there was a full attendance. Three new mem- 

 bers were received. A committee of three was appointed, 

 consisting of Hon. N. W. Nutting, Prof. I. B. Poucher and 

 F. E. Hamilton, Esq., to draft resolutions of respect in re- 

 gard to our president, Dr. McManus, who has moved to St. 

 Louis, The club also voted to a have a glass ball shoot every 

 Friday, to be in charge of the secretary, G. P. Matteson, and 

 to be. governed by State rules. The members all seem to be 

 wide-awake this spring, and bound to have a pleasant and 

 interesting season of it. The old club is, as usual, in a good 

 financial condition. — Veteran, 



A Simulation Fatally Perfect. —Jasper Smith, of Wise 

 county, Texas, while out hunting was accidentally shot dead 

 on the 21st ult. I present the substance of the case in the 

 quaint language of the jury's inquest oJ six persons : "We, 

 the jury before whom was "presented the dead body of a man 

 by the name of Jasper Smith, after hearing all the evidence 

 accessible to us, and examining the body found, that his 

 name is Jasper Smith, and that the deceased was secreted in 

 the brush in Cattle Creek bottom yelping up a turkey, and 

 was shot by A. J. Pillows, evidently being mistaken by said 

 Pillows for a turkey."— H. W. Merrill. 



Summer Excursion Books.— The Grand Rapids and In- 

 diana Railroad, better known as "The Fishing Line," pub- 

 lish a profusely illustrated guide-book to the summer resorts 

 of Western Michigan. The book may be had free on appli- 

 cation to A. B. Leet, General Passenger Agent, Grand Rap- 

 ids, Mich. The Ulica and Black River Railroad publish a 

 similar book, descriptive of the Adirondack^, Thousand 

 Islands, etc. It is furnished by Theo. Butterfield, Utica, 

 N. Y. 



Gulp City Gun Club. — Mobile, Ala. — The following are 

 the officers of the Gulf City Gun Club elected March 15, 

 1882, for the following year: Oliver J. Semmes, President; 

 Wm. B, Holt, Vice-President; Jno. F. Summersell, Secre- 

 tary; Jas. S. Alexander, Jr., Treasurer; Braxton Bragg, 

 Attorney; Executive Committee, Col. Louis H. Kennerly! 

 chairman, Root, C. Kennedy, Alfred F. Taliaferio, Daniel 

 H. Lay, Jno. J. Crowley, Wm. S. Anderson, Jno. G. Friend. 



Spring Shooting. — Henderson, N Y., May 22,— A few 

 years ago, here on the shore of Lake Ontario,*we had grand 

 "duck shooting, both spring and fall, but since the advent of 

 the breech-loader and every man and boy has turned hunter, 

 we have very poor shooting. Ducks used to nest here, but 

 now there are only a few wounded ones that are unable to 

 get away. Go on with the good work until spring gfioOting 

 is abolished.— E. B, 



Florida. — Rock Ledge, May 17.— Game plenty in the way 

 of deer and game birds of all kinds. Fishing grand. — G. O. 

 L. 



