448 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I-Julv 6, 1832. 



JUNE DEER SHOOTING. 



I IT AYE not seen the deer signs so plenty in msnv years 

 as they are about Blue Mountain ami the Level this 

 season. I came across fresh deer tracks-', wherever I went. 

 1 did not get sight of one myself, but a gentleman who went 

 up with me, saw three on the borders of a small pond where 

 he. went to fish one afternoon. Many of the tracks that I 

 saw had iust been made by deer iliat had heard us coming and 

 had just left; For the last two winters there has not been, 

 on aceount of the light fall of snow, any crusting of deer to 

 speak of in the Adirondack^, at least in, that portion of them 

 known as the St. Regis district. This, no doubt, is the main 

 cause of their being so plenty here this season. The deer 

 winter in the ftreat tracts of the. fores! that are in I he north- 

 western portion of the St. Regis district, and in the spring- 

 come out to the openings along the river and the pouds to 

 feed on the tender grass that grows on their banks. But the 

 night hunters, who are nearly as bad as the crust ers, and 

 who destroy more deer than all the rest of the hunters com- 

 bined, not excepting the cruatera, are already at work and 

 have slaughtered quite a number this spring already. While 

 there I saw no less than a dozen or more p'asa on their way 

 to the Sixteen-mile Level or some of the ponds near the head", 

 with their guns, headlights, etc,, for night hunting. 



These night hunters are nearly all residents of this or St. 

 Lawrence county. The majority that, I saw were from the 

 latter county. They go in to kill all the deer they cab with- 

 out regard to age or sex._ A year ago last season they killed 

 upwards of sixty on the Level and vicinity before the first, of 

 August. They began the slaughter as early as the middle 

 of May or earlier. One doe was killed in that month; 

 when they come to open it to dress it they found they had 

 destroyed three deer instead of one as they supposed. One 

 hunter killed four deer in one night and another shot three 

 on another night near the same time. Deer are quite tame 

 at this time of the season until they have been hunted some 

 and shot at, and can often be approached in the day time to 

 within a few rods, and a skillful paddlor will at this time of 

 the season paddle a boat to within a few yards of them at 

 night. 



Now I would like to ask what credit is it to a hunter, or 

 what skill is displayed in shooting a charge of buckshot 

 (often from both barrels), into a deer that is standing still 

 and gazing at your headlight, at that distance? 



If they would only kill one deer and then stop so as to 

 have a little venison to eat it would not be so bad. But they 

 will, like the two mentioned above, who killed one of them 

 four and the other three in one night, kill all that they can. 

 Neither of these men cared for more than a meal or two of 

 Tenison, which one deer would have supplied in plenty. The 

 rest were all killed for merely the sake of killing to count, to 

 boast of, or to hare it go out that they were great deer 

 slayers or noted hunt ers" &o. But if they expected to gain 

 or receive any credit as noted deer hunters, which, no doubt, 

 they did, I can tell them that they fell far short of their ex- 

 pectations. For whatever their friends or acquaintances may 

 havo said in regard to the matter to their face, I have heard 

 many of them while conversing with myself and others in 

 relation to it, condemn the act as wanton and cruel. Even 

 some of those who practice early hunting, I have heard speak 

 of it in terms that were not very comphmental to them they 

 would have thought had they but heard them. These 

 two hunters are residents of "this vicinity. And I have 

 known of their hunting deer more or less every fall 

 for several years back. But, during the whole time I have 

 only known or heard of one deer being killed by either of 

 them after the first of August. One of them, I believe, did 

 manage to kill one some time in that month, some yearsago. 

 It is the same thing with the most of the eariy hunters. They 

 are not able to kill a deer, except by chance, during the law- 

 ful season for hunting, so they hunt them in the spring and 

 summer at a time that they art; about as tame as sheep and 

 full as easily killed. 



If this early deer hunting is not stopped soon there will be 

 none left long anywhere in the Adironclacks. as I believe it 

 .is only the big tracts of unsettled forests like those -in the 

 St. Begis district that any large number of deer can now be 

 found, and there are but "few of .these, large tracts without a 

 road or building on or through any portion of them now in 

 the Adirondacks. The onlyway the slaughter can bo stopped 

 is through the State Game Protectors; for in a county or 

 town where there is no game club or sporting society of any 

 kind, and but a few of the residents that care anything for 

 preserving the game, there will none be found that will un- 

 dertake to enforce the laws alone. Aimiox Ondaoe. 

 Near the Aixuio.vdacim, Franklin County, 1C. Y.. Jutie 13, 1882. 



THE LONDON, ONT, SOCIETY. 



T1IE regular annual meeting of the Fish and Game Pro- 

 tective Society met, at the Revere House, this city, last 

 evening, June 28, Dr, JSiven in the chair. 



On motion it was decided that the secretary represent to 

 the Dominion Government that large quantities of game birds 

 are annually being shot and exported to the United States, 

 and request that they take some action to 'prevent the expor- 

 tation of these birds. The secretary was also instructed 

 to communicate with Mr. Witcker, Deputy Minister of 

 Fisheries, to urge amendment of the bass, law, so that the 

 close season will be extended to the loth of June, The 

 following officers were appointed for the ensuing year: W. 

 C. L. Gill, President: Dr. Woodruff, First Vice; "P. McCann, 

 Second Vice; I). Skirving. Secretary-treasurer. Executive 

 Committee — T. H. Smalimaii; Rnbt. Vallance, Dr. Niyen, 

 John Puddioombe, Oeo. Kelley. 0. A. Stone, R. Mercer, A. 

 Chisholmand John Cousins. 



The followimr annual report was read by the secretary 

 Mr. D. S. Skirving. and ad 6 



Mr. PHJSSH>ENT«Anrj Gexteeiten — I have much pleasure 

 in submitting our seventh annual report, which, though it 

 may seen: barren of incidents usual in like documents, such 

 as an account of the number of ■victims offered upon I 

 "stems of sacrifice," otherwise the bar of the Police Court, 

 as infringers of the majesty of the Game Laws, and the 

 amount, of currency of which they would consequently ha,ve 

 been depleted ami compelled to contribute toward the sup- 

 port of our Dominion as "spoilers/' not pillars, of the State, 

 according to the BaoriniP ul th h uiAnse;-: or their deeply 

 repentant pleadings for mercy and tbeir promises to do so 

 no more till next lime, still contains matters Of interest to 

 our society. 



There have been, since our Inst report, a. luge number of 

 posters distributed throughout the district, containing infor- 

 mal<L as to the close ■■ <■ <■■ fish and game and other 

 sub.hy In connection with the Game Laws. A> Hieae post 

 ern*jiT\vurn out or destroyed, they are replaced bj . i ■■ 



upon application to the secretary or other officers of the so- 

 ciety, and from the generally fair knowledge of the close 

 seasons, and the desire to observe them possessed by the 

 farming community in general, principally derived from the 

 information thus given to them, would' lead to the belief 

 that the efforts of our society have been very much appreci- 

 ated. 



Wc have not had one prosecution since our last report for 

 infringement of the game law or the iuseetivorous birds' 

 protection act, winch is certainly a good record to give for 

 the district underthe protection of our society, uud'conclu- 

 sive evidence that our society has exercised a wholesome 

 influence over those who formerly were tempted to shoot 

 during the_ close seasons. Also providing that "game pro- 

 tective societies" are an absolute necessity in a game country 

 to see that the game laws are enforced, ( >n the cordial co- 

 operation of the farming community depends in a great 

 measure the successful carrying out of these laws, and if 

 they will protect the game birds that, remain all the year 

 around and breed in Ontario, and will prevent professional 

 shooters and pot-hunters, both in and out, of season, from 

 clearing the fields and woods of every tiling they can find in 

 the shape of game, and allow Only those Who are genuine 

 sportsmen to shoot on their farms, we shall in a yea t or two 

 have abundance of quail and grouse in (his country. The 

 last winter having been so mild, we hear on all sides that 

 young broods will be numerous this season and that the 

 prospects for sport next fall are good. 



Snipe have been plentiful, and their return in the fall in 

 large quantities may be reasonably expected. We have to 

 reiterate the remarks made in former reports; that it is ex- 

 tremely desirable the shooting season for all game birds 

 except quail should commence on 1st September. " The rea- 

 son therefor is obvious to all sportsmen. Close season to 

 commence on 1st January following, and no effort should 

 be spared until the Legislature- grants the request,. Some 

 parties to the east of here wish the law to remain as it is, 

 while we in the west wish it altered. The law could be 

 easily arranged to suit both parties by a line of domarkation 

 being drawn at a certain point, on the west of which our 

 wishes could be gi ven effect to. Another matter which re- 

 quires the serious consideration of the Legislature is the 

 exporting of ' game. Numbers of deer, if is said, are 

 annually slaughtered in the Ottawa district for exportation 

 to the United States, while in the west hundreds "of quail 

 are shipped on board the dining cars during the season 

 ostensibly for use thereon, but, really for Buffalo and other 

 TJ. S. .markets. Some steps should be taken to prevent this 

 sort of thing. 



Our worthy Fishery Inspector, Mr. P. McCann. reports 

 having exercised much vigilance during the past twelve 

 month-,, and that he has prosecuted, caused to be fined or 

 otherwise punished eleven parties for eaiehing bass in the 

 close season, and. for spearing lish. He reports' the fish Ways 

 on the River Thames as being in good order. 



Mr. E. Raymond reports that a large number of skunks 

 have been destroyed in this section during, the past ieasoii 

 as over 2,000 skins have, been brought to him for purchase. 



In conclusion, it, is hoped that our society, organized 

 entirely for the benefit of the genuine sportsmen and the 

 game-loving community in general, will be largely sup- 

 ported in future. 



As far as our finances are concerned, we have had suffi- 

 cient funds to meet, our expenses during the past, year. 



D. Skikvino, Seo.-Trens. 

 London, On*., Jane 2!). 



Tiie Situation rtSf Westfiei.d.— Commenting on a re- 

 cent editorial in lids journal, Mr. John J. Willie, president 

 of the "West-field (New Jersey) Society, says Id {he Monitor, of 

 that town: "In view of the fact that a few evil -disposed 

 persons in the community have openly expressed themselves 

 in antagonism of this society's modes" of enforcing the game 

 laws, the above extract is peculiarly pertinent. As the mat- 

 ter stands in this town at present, on one side is a powerful 

 society of seventy members, the whole of the fanning and 

 laud-holding class, all the respectable laboring men, mechan- 

 ics, and young men; on the other, probably not over a dozen 

 men andboys, whose natural destination sooner or later will 

 be in the direction of Trenton. It is now pretty well under- 

 stood that the whole efforts of the society for the past three 

 years has been exercised for the general good anil J or no sel- 

 fish motives. Because it has been found necessary to lease a 

 few farms in order to protect the game birds and fish, that 

 have cost much money and trouble to procure and care for, 

 that is no ground for anyone saying that we are trying to es- 

 tablish a system such as prevails' in England, bin- leased 

 property does not cover a tenth of the township, :. i 

 ing even by members of the society will be forbidden when- 

 ever the board o\ directors see fit to so order for the preser- 

 vation of the stock for another season, ft remains to be 

 seen if the few spoken of can successfully carry out even a 

 portion of their threats. The whole force and funds of this 

 society will, if necessary, be devoted to the strict enforcement, 

 of the laws, and the sooner we are able to secure such evi- 

 dence, necessary to enable us to prosecute, the better. It re- 

 mains to lie seen who wishes to present himself first for 

 honors in a contest against 'We, the people.' " 



Orrro Woodcock Gkottxdr — I am informed by reliable 

 parties that excellent summer woodcock shooting may lie 

 had this summer on the line of the Pan Handle Railroad, 

 between Seio and Denuison, Ohio. Between these towns 

 there are five or six miles of low bottom land with alder 

 thickets. A creek called the Stillwater rims through ft, tind 

 I am told many woodcock, have settled down in flu 

 of the country to breed. Your correspondent passed through 

 the region not, long since, noticed the capital groins ' ,,, • 

 made inquiries in reference to them, and learned that the 

 country is seldom visited by sportsmen for summer wood- 

 cock shooting. As for accommodations 1 am notable to 

 speak, but, should imagine they would Lie poor, unless 

 quarters could be obtained at sonic farm house. — Horn. 



Mrarrnxs Sportsmen. — The Memphis (Tenn.) I A 

 says : There is a club of gentlemen in this city who, some nine 

 years ago, resolved to enjoy life at least, one week i i 

 ;, ' ar, mi which business, wives, dignity and menial discipline 

 are metaphorically thrown to the dogs, and a comfortable in- 

 souciance takes their place. Dr. R. W. Mitchell is Presi- 

 dent ; YV". A. Wheat!, v. Secretary and Treasurer: J. S. 

 Wilkins. Uncle George Mitchell, John Overton. Jr., D. II. 

 Postern, W. B. Galbreath, A. C. Tivadwcll, ' ' . tf. Janus, 

 R. D. .Jordan. Judge S. P. Walker, and .1. A. 'Taylor are 

 members. About the middle of October these gentlemen 



r arid plot against the i of their 



■ ' , : ! , 



club the sum of ij?50_ apiece, charter a train, and skip out on 

 Saturday to the prairies of Arkansas on a grand hunting 

 expedition. The following is a page from their expense 

 bock wliirh nccouuts far till okHgncns their ripe, live 

 wives raise whenever (heir liege subjects go a-hunting 

 Item 1. Apiece of pork to grease sore thumbs with 10 cents. 

 it: in A. A bottle of sv"?et oil tc grease gun ha it. «e 

 Item 3, Grocery bill: 1 box of crackers, t ch i ■ I bffi 

 lolbs. sugar, 51bs. coffee, 21bs. stick candy. 81011 s. powder' 

 1 can condensed milk, total, $89.34. Item 4. Bill of sun- 

 dries at Vaccaro's and TJ. J. Somraes, to wit, I flask of Aqua 

 Vina, for sore throat, $100.93. The other items do not 

 amount to much— unless it is item 13:1 box liniment for 

 wounded prairie chickens, 1? cents. These gentlemen 

 spend one week shooting. They scored on one occasion 

 1,180 prairie chickens, twenty deer, and 150 head of sundry 

 animals, making a total of' 1,350 head. They take with 

 there Che very best dogs in the country. 



Oobhectioct Lakes.— Connecticut. Lake. June 26,— In 

 your last, issue I saw a mournful reference to missing notes 

 from this locality. Let your correspondent appear in the 

 flesh and he will find us at, home in his favorite resort, i 

 occupied some portion of last week in cutting out the wind- 

 falls of the past winter from the winding stream where "R." 

 found his first moose. His boat rests quietly on the waters 

 of one of those ponds where our united strength eaveout 

 en route. One caribou has laid his antlers at our i i [nil 

 last October, but no hunters of old does, with their playful 

 fawns, can count, the hides they have taken there, If, with 

 many others near, rests in quiet seclusion, except from the 

 crust hunter; for his hard luck we can thank a more cfflcienl 

 law maker than exists in our legislative halls. Our snow 

 falls were too light within the past few years to catch, but 

 but not to prevent an attempt on I heir part. (One baud of 

 five moose was followed for a, week this spring, when the 

 snow began to disappear; and our wolf returned too much 

 worn .out to firing in a, horn with eleven points, found among 

 the "signs." — Wed Mokton. 



New Jetisey Notes.— New Village, Warren County, Iv 

 J., June '.'ti.— I send herewith a few notes and I lie prospect 

 for game in this county. Our quail shoot in a; for the pBSl 



two years has I . Birds generally plenty about May 



andJuly, but with November Were very scarce. Last fall but 

 very few were shot in any pattof the county. Some pa)'. 

 ticular spots, known only to a limited few. afforded ■■> day's 

 shooting, the bag generally counting about a dozen birds. 

 Grouse (pheasa n ti are very scarce. Woodcock way now be 

 seen in some favorite places, and will afford a, little sport in 

 July. This will atone in part for the lo-s in quail. Very 

 few woodcock are ever found here in October or Hovembei . 

 Rabbits are plenty and have excellent coyer. Hundreds 

 may be slmi in November if one has a gOOdhOUHd, Of trout- 

 fishing we have none. Most Of our fishing is done along the 

 streams in Pa,, or on the ponds and lakes for pickerel, and 

 in the Delaware for bass. The ,, , : , caught ■■■■.■ 

 at Carpeutcrvillc, and weighed four and one-half pounds. 



A dead one weighing seven pounds was found there j 



on the water near shore. — P. H. 



§mp Sm gild 



"That reminds me." 



J WAS standing in the doorway of the Peabody Hotel 

 after an early breakfast one morning, when I saw a, curi- 

 ous little drania all by myself. 



It had rained the Etighl befe-re and then frozen so as to 

 leave an icy covering over everything, I he pavements 

 especially being of glassy smoothness. A 'very large, heavy 



gentleman of cheerful aspect came out, of the d , 



the same lime, and WO stood for a moment hesitate: j 

 trusting to the sidewalk. 



Just then there turned I lie corner and came picking his 

 way up the street one of the tidiest, nattiest, pop-eyed little 

 men 1 eyer saw. He u as very careful indeed, and e at 

 all right until just opposite us, when he slipped, grabbed at 

 the air, and went down with an audible bump. My fat 

 neighbor laughed. The little man rose in fury, "By 

 Heavens, Sirrah, when a man laughs I like to see lii'm laugh 

 ([//something!!!" He sputtered in wrath and a we1 

 his breeches. Hit, seeing the situation was unpleasant, the 

 portly gentleman deemed i|, best to simply walk away. So 

 buttoning his coat closer he stepped urn . ' Alas, this did not, 

 heal the breech. For he scarcely took throe Steps when he 

 got the worst fall I ever saw . Slipped — backed — kicked up 

 — rolled over and over, and butted the curbstone trying to 

 get up. Hat smashed— boot-heel knocked off, an 

 bloody scratch on QOSC. 



No." no. the little man didn't laugh. Ho, he just hugged 

 the lamp-post and screamed. 



1 went back into the hotel and waited for a thaw. 



A. Mn,|,;. 



We were, sitting round I lie. (ire one evening in rather a 

 quiet mood, balking rather listlessly upon minor topics, when 

 the conversation drifted upon the' ice, and several - i 

 skating were related, each one more remarkable than its 

 U, At last one of the party who had been dis- 

 tanced in two or three Heats, asserted that lie bad skated 

 aciOSS a portion of ice so thin that his skates cut, through at 

 every stroke. Cud, who had been nodding in his chair, 



and seemingly paying no attenti ; ■ ., litre 



straightened up and remarked: "Talk of skating on thin 

 ice: you should have seen me skate across old QuidniC pond 

 last winter. Why, the ice was go thin that when I gol 

 in the middle of the pond it bent so they couldn't see me 

 from the shore!" 



Cats were the subject of discussion one evening, and Hie 



lioys carnc out strong with a striiij'n i ipital li finally 



one of the veterans related a, little anecdote, wherein hi , ' 



orite cat — who was hopelc ' ' : ad a sqtdrrcl she was 

 chasing aeross the yard— had been intercepted I 



seized by the tail, and slung with such momentum that « 



she struck she at ore,, i i and seized her prey. This 



brought Cud to his feet. 



r, That reminds me, 1 ; die scrape I hat brother Bill 



and 1 had with our old cat on Lb i Sidy. The 



boys had been firing a cannon just back ol qui oi 



had left it there. Pill and 1 ChOUgllt that WE would ha 

 little celebration on 0X1 ,,,,,, 



of powder and loaded ap hi ol jj w Ufil 

 the wad flown, , 



