Jttly 87, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



607 



the scaffold and wrappings are in a good state of preser- 

 vation. I climbed the tree to get a better view. Between 

 two large branch ja a scaffold 'had been built of stout large 



Eoles, and on it the body hud been .securely fastened with 

 road thonsja of buff do hide. The head was pillowed on 

 several medicine bags, the wrappings of robes, blankets and 

 dressed skins had been partially torn open by the eagles or 

 hawks and exposed to view the bow and ' arrows, shield 

 and other im dements which the old man is now supposed to 

 be using in the spirit land. I had some thought of ta kin g 

 these weapons, but just then a passing breeze caused the 

 torn skins to flap and flutter, and hastily descending Ehe 

 tree I mounted the horse and rode away. 



I am about to give you conclusive evidence that I am a 

 pot-hunter of the deepest dye. A little further up the creek 

 I saw an antelope, picketed* the horse and managed to crawl 

 up within easy range. Saw it was a doe, and knew that if T 

 killed it the poor little fawn cached somewhere on the prairie 

 would die; shot her, however, nnd tied the carcass on the 

 saddle with great satisfaction, and as I thought of the savory 

 stews and roasts the meat would make, returned home with 

 all speed. Verily I am a true pot-hunter, for I seek to fill 

 the pot with meat, and some of you who, on a favorite stand 

 bag a hundred or so of water fowl in a day, or on the sea- 

 shore mow down long swaths of poor little snipe, or on a 

 hot summer day catch basket after basketful of trout are 

 "true sportsmen, " because you hunt and fish in seasou and 

 only for spurt. Aud then you wonder why the grouse are 

 decreasing, and why the thicks are not so plenty as' they used 

 to be. and lay it all to the pot-hunter. Next fall when you 

 go out on your annual hunts don't try to kill all the grouse 

 in the woods in one day. Don't kill a wagon load of water 

 fowl just because yon can. Be satisfied with moderate bags, 

 and in a few years you will see the wisdom thereof. Aud 

 now, having said enough to be "cussed" by all hands J will 

 close. Ap-pe-kun-nt 



Opper Marias River, M. T.. June 3, 1882. 



OUTFITTING FOR THE DUCKS. 



"f-Ti-0 duck shooting with me? Well, yes, I don't know 

 Vj that I will ever have a better time than the present. I 

 am sorry we have not two heavy guns, but you will find 

 that, the sixteen-gauge will do nearly the execution of the 

 ten, and for quick shots at the teal you will find it even 

 better. Therefore, load about 300 shell's for each gun; put 

 4J drams of moderately coarse powder in the No. 10 shells, 

 and 3 drams of one grade finer in the sixteen-gauge; 2 pink- 

 edged wads and l^and-Joz., respectively, of No. a shot, 

 and a Baldwin or cardboard wad over these. As the weather 

 bids fair to tie clear, use paper shells, but take the metallic- 

 ones along, for should it rain hard the paper shells are a 

 nuisance; the paper will stick in the chamber of the barrels, 

 than which I know of nothiug more vexatious. 



"We will take each a boat so as to be able to carry a big 

 flock of decoys, say fifty to one hundred. You had' better 

 look them over to-day and see that all have anchors, and line 

 that is not rotted nor frayed ; on such put new lines of the best 

 cord. See that we have a small cup and bailing sponge in 

 the boats, and you may put in my sailing umbrella; if this 

 wind continues I ean sail all the way hack up the river, 

 which is a great relief to a tired man. 



"Oh! you want an umbrella? I thought you considered 

 them a little old fogyish?" 



"Well, get a good strong thirty-six-inch umbrella, such 

 as your grandfather used to carry Attach a guy or stay of 

 heavy cord from the tip of each rib to the sliding thimble on 

 the handle; this will prevent it from ever turning wrong 

 side out. Get one wdth a 'crook' handle, as you will find it 

 handy to hook on to the thwart when sailing. If the wind 

 be directly aft, the umbrella will almost take care of itself, 

 while you steer the skiff with quartering winds. You must 

 use fastenings of cord as your ingenuity will suggest. My 

 usual way, however, is to hook the umbrella handle on the 

 seat or a cord stretched across the boat, take my seat in the 

 stern, and with my setting pole stuck in among the braces, 

 guide the boat by rolling the umbrella from side to side. 

 You must rig some wire loops close under the gunwale, in 

 which to cany it when not in use. There are other and 

 obvious uses that you will learn when you have been caught 

 in a sudden rain squall and have forgotten to take your rub- 

 ber coat; or uuder a boiling sun in midday, when no ducks 

 are flying. You will be surprised at tile amount of •sail 

 area' and speed to be got out of one of these large umbrellas, 

 and one has the grim satisfaction of getting some return 

 from the 'pesky' wind that he must pull against. 



"Again, if we are going together we must provide ourselves 

 with another ammunition pail. Get a good medium-sized 

 cedar or pine pail, with three brass hoops, put a hinged cover 

 on it which you may upholster with curled hair, covered 

 with drab-colored glazed cloth, water-proof. Thoroughly 

 print tha pail, same color, or you miy have a green-co'.ored 

 one for September shooting. Inside the pail you may put 

 partitions of thin wood set perpendicularly, or 'you may put- 

 in a tray like a milk pan, with a hollow handle in the center 

 to let it out by. Have the handle hollow so that you can 

 drop your empty metallic shells through it into the bottom 

 part of the pail where they will be kept dry and free from 

 being stepped on. You may also have a small place par- 

 tioned off for your oil ean, extractor, goose shells, etc. 



"You will find this pail much more handy and better 

 adapted to your wants than any of the leather trunks or bags. 

 It makes a good seat that may be used in the boat or in the 

 mud or shallow water without fear of wetting the cartridges. 

 It will never leak as long as the inside is kept dry (Irishism, 

 but true) as there is no process of swelling and shrinking as 

 in a water pail as ordinarily used, 



"Also gel a small-sized sickle with which to cut canes and 

 flags to make the blinds, and, let me tell you right here, 

 when you go on a point to shoot, be careful about Iramping 

 down the cane. Go well back in the high cane and with 

 your sickle, cut a large armful, take plenty of time to blind 

 your boat as perfectly as possible, sticking a little handful 

 of canes into the mud every six or eight inches apart on all 

 exposed sides of your boat," bending the tops down at a point 

 nearly breast high. If you rely on your pocket knife for 

 cutting canes you will be likely' to cut the job short aud try 

 to satisfy yourself with a half-built blind which is some- 

 times worse "than none, as it attracts the ducks' attention by 

 its unnatural and straggling appearance. 



"Previous to this, of course, j-ou have set out your decoys, 

 and let me caution you about setting them too far out, which 

 is a common fault with beginners. ~ 



"When we get to the marsh I will give you some points 

 about the placing of yuur decoys, relative to the sun and the 

 direction of the wind, etc. : but, lest I forget it, let me sav 

 right here, that as a general rale, ducks prefer to fly against 



the wind, and arc therefore most likely to congregate at that 

 side of the marsh from whence the wind is blowing." 



I hope these remarks may be of use to other amateurs as 

 they were to me. Mehitable 



Cleveland, O. 



ONTARIO GAME INTERESTS. 



THERE has been a growing dissatisfaction in this country 

 with the way in which we are being imposed upon by 

 the market shooters and others from "the States." Perhaps 

 1 cannot give you a better insight into just how we look at 

 these things, than by quoting for your benefit an editorial 

 article in yesterday's Free Press of this city, which is as fol- 

 lows; 



"Spoiling men in the West feel hard over what they con- 

 sider the unfair tactics of a set of strangers who come here 

 to shoot over our best grounds for the pot rather than for 

 sport. Just as in the Ottawa district deer are slaughtered 

 each year for exportation to the States, in the west great 

 numbers of quail are expressed to American cities on pretence 

 of providing the railway dining cars. This sort of thing is 

 stiongly complained of by the gunning fraternity, who see 

 the fruits of their efforts for the protection of the best game, 

 by observing the breeding season, borne off by American pot- 

 men who make a business of shooting at so much a brace. 

 One party of sixteen Americans not long ago shot over the 

 line of the Canada Southern Railway, and another party of 

 eight soon followed. The result was a general cleaning out 

 of the birds. These parties arc said to pay no attention to 

 the game laws, always treating Canadian ground as free 

 common. In the guise of genuine sportsmen they make havoc 

 with the farmer's fence and crops, in their haste to kill off 

 every bevy ; and oftimes the farmer directs his fury against 

 the members of the legitimate sporting clubs of this country, 

 whereas these gentlemen give him but little trouble, as they 

 go in more for exercise and to see the dogs work than for 

 the mouey value of ths bag. When American slayers clean 

 out the country to their entire satisfaction, they pack the 

 quail in barrels, with a layerof squirrel on the top and bottom. 

 The frisky squirrel being only reckoned as vermin, passes 

 out without attracting any attention. This is one way of 

 evading official scrutiny. ' A check to this kind of thing 

 would be found in making squirrels non-exportable the same 

 as quail, grouse, and woodr-nok. 



"Owing tothe way in wl ich the farmers have been co-operat- 

 ing with the Game Protective Society, the game resorts are 

 becomiug again well stocked. A few years ago, it may be 

 remembered, it was a hard thing to get any good shooting. 

 The birds were so well favored by the late 'mild winter that 

 it is reported the young broods will be numerous this season, 

 and the prospects for the fall sport are accordingly good. It is 

 remarked that snipe have been plentiful, and their return in 

 the fall in large quantities may be resonably expected. The 

 question is, shall the professional pot-hunters from over the 

 border have the same license as usual, or shall our own sport- 

 ing men have the benefit of what they have done so much 

 towards bringing about? If the foreigners are to clean np 

 the fields and woods before the season opens, so that our own 

 gunners may travel all day and not get a point, it must be 

 conceded that there is poor encouragement for them to try 

 and c irry out the laws. They consequently appeal to the 

 farmers, who are now generally up to all these matters, to 

 check the intrusion complained of. We are told that should 

 a Canadian hunt in American woods, and attempt to ship to 

 the markets on this side, he would be made to feel the rigor 

 of the law. aud be hunted out p. tl. q. 



"All that our sporting men want is fair play and recipro- 

 city in these matters. In some of the States the law? concern- 

 ing game are very stringent, so much so, that more than one or 

 two braces of birds are not allowed to be sent from one State 

 to another. Why then should Canadian fields and woods be 

 periodically raided upon and stripped in the way and for the 

 purpose complained of? Our friends over the lines not only 

 get our birds, but slaughter the fish in our streams wantonly, 

 as many think. The old Saugeen River has been stripped of 

 trout by the Waltons of New York State— all first-rate fellows, 

 no doubt, but who are well enough satisfied with the one- 

 sided arrangement. The Nipiegon on Lake Superior has 

 been fished out also by tourists mainly from Buffalo and 

 Cleveland. Barrels upon barrels of the best fish are caught 

 and thrown aside to rot. Why should this country continue 

 to allow itself to be regarded in this way, as a splendid field 

 for free sport, often wanton or uiercena'y? Is it not time to 

 let these parties know that 'Canucks' are not thus to 

 be imposed upon? For all they do or care to prevent, both 

 our fields and rivers would soon be despoiled of everything 

 worth having." 



As your readers are well aware, we have a live game so- 

 ciety here; and it is probable that through their efforts some 

 action may be taken looking to a stringent non-export law 

 that will effectually break up the trouble complained of. 

 London, Ontario, July 11, 1882. Anser Canadensis. 



The Philadelphia Poachers.— Fourth Lake, Fulton 

 Chain, N. Y. — By the time the wheels of justice roll this 

 case out, it will make venison look like rather an expensive 

 luxury to the denizens of the Quaker City. The members 

 of this party are ladies and gentlemen, and it seems harsh 

 to apply the law so vigorously to such persons, and yet, if 

 people of their intelligence and culture will knowingly go 

 into another State and viola' e the game laws, they must ex- 

 pect, wdi en caught, to be dealt with the same as people of 

 lower standing in society. And a few such cases will serve 

 to convince all parties that these same laws must be observed 

 and respected in this part of the State. Fred Hess and Chris 

 Goodsell, guides from here, accompanied Mr. Dodge on 

 this raid, and did excellent service. In fact, he told the 

 writer that he felt under many obligations to all the guides 

 on this side for their willingness to assist him, and generous 

 offers of camps; boat supplies, etc. Our guides here are de- 

 termined to suppress all "crooked' work this season, which 

 is wise on then part, as it tends to perpetuate their business, 

 and make this beautiful country a desirable place for spoils- 

 men to visit. We hope that the propagation and protection 

 of fish and game may continue and prove the means of our 

 grandchildren enjoying fishing and hunting equal to what 

 we are having now. — Fish Hawk. 



Stool Pigeons.— Baltimore, Md., July, 1882.— I have 

 been keepiug my hand in during the off-season by practice 

 at the wild pigeons, not sprung from a trap, but decoyed 

 within range by effigies set up on the fence rails. — M. 



Chippewa Falls.— Wis, , July, 1882.— A gun club has been 

 organized here, with Geo. Gans, President; Geo. Borland, 

 Vice-President; R. D. Wbittemore, Secretary; L. M, New- 

 man, Treasurer; I. O. Miles, Field Captain.— Badgee. 



THE BEARS AGAIN. 



HOW can the Forest and Stream ever atone for bring- 

 ing me across the path of "Nessmuk"? 1 am a peace- 

 loving Puritan, fond of the chase but: not of war; anxious to 

 live a retired life and die a natural death, unscratched by 

 hears or bear-killers. My eVery-day business and associa- 

 tions are such that I am daily or hourly entertained with 

 fish stories and shooting adventures, and' however thrilling 

 (that's a safe word) they may be set forth, 1 never allow 

 myself to betray signs of incredulity, for I have not the phy- 

 sical courage to face a disputed trout-catcher, much less 'a 

 torn and bloody bear-killer; and I realized how utterly "pre- 

 mature" was my own modest and thoughtless "query" when 

 I saw its horrible proximity to that array of five bear stories • 

 by "Nessmuk." I was speechless. I wish to apologize, or 

 something, and I hasten to say: My dear "Nessmuk/' since 

 being made aware of the powerful influences that surround 

 you, I am not prepared to dispute the entire truthfulness 

 and accuracy of any of the five stories. 



But the story to which he refers in King II., chapter two, 

 verses twenty-three and twenty-four, was not fresh in my 

 mind when I ""queried." I presume I heard o( it at the lime 

 it happened, and if all the attending circumstances were 

 noted, a la Millikeu, perhaps I believed it when first told, but 

 that was some time ago, if my memory serves me, and Until 

 lam faced by a man who was there, swears to the truth of 

 it, and shows his hatchet, I shall allow myself to be a little 

 skeptical. The fact is, for two young hunters to kill forty- 

 two bears in one day is a good many bears. I know some- 

 thing about bear killing myself; they are hard to kill. "That 

 reminds me," J. once had an adventure with a bear myself. 

 No! no! I beg pardon, I can't tell it ever again; the circum- 

 stances of the past few weeks have made me form new reso- 

 lutions. E. M. M. 



Boston, JuJy 15, 1882. 



The dimensions given in the following report are some- 

 what indefinite, but doubtless the bear was a big one: "Mr. 

 Corliss, of Wade plantation, Me., an old gentleman seventy- 

 five years of age, hunted down and shot a bear recently in 

 Petham, whose skin measured seven and a half feet from 

 snout to tail, six and a half feet aciois the shoulders aud 

 hips, and five and a half feet across the narrowest part, and 

 whose carcass was larger than a good-sized two-year-old 

 heifer. Mr. Corliss has hunted bears ever since he was sev- 

 enteen years of age, and has killed over a hundred." 



And is this a true bear stoty? We find it in the Rutland, 

 Vt. , Herald, Juty 14: "The Village of Pownal was thrown 

 into a state of excitement on Wednesday by the app arance 

 of a huge black bear on the streets. At' first it was sought 

 to drive the animal away with dogs, but for a considerable 

 'iuie the bear was monarch of all he surveyed. Finally, 

 after smelling about the village to his heart's content, he 

 moved on up the railroad track in the direction of North 

 Pownal. At this juncture one Brown appeared upon the 

 scene, armed and equipped to do battle. The first intimation 

 that the bear had of the appearance of this new enemy was a 

 bullet whistling about his ears. The bear turned upon Brown 

 but the latter sought covet. When the bear reached the rail- 

 road bridge, midway between Pownal and North Pownal, 

 he faced about and stood upon his haunches. But Brown 

 had no inclination to tackle the bear at close quarters. 

 Bracing himself alongside a telegraph pole he took aim and 

 pulled the trigger. The ball took effect in a vital portion of 

 the bear's anatomy, Brown had killed the bear, and the 

 ntws of his victory soon spread to both villages. The body 

 of the dead bear was carried in triumph through the streets 

 of the village, but in the midst of the general rejoicing two 

 Italians arrived upon the scene and, after discovering the 

 cause of the commotion, broke out in the most terrible tirade 

 of blasphemy ever heard in the valley of the Hoosac. Ex-- 

 planatinns followed, when it was learned that the bear was 

 their property, and that they were traveling about the 

 country exhibiting him." 



Arkansas Needs a Law. — Little Rock, Ark., July 15. 

 — Editor Forest and Stream: As a constant reader of your 

 valuable journal I am very much interested in your efforts 

 to preserve the game of the country. I am one of the. many 

 who possess a dog and gun, and like to hunt a little for rec- 

 r ation. We have no game law. We have tried faithfully 

 to pass one, but have never been able to accomplish an vthing. 

 The result of this is, that pot-hunters are destroying 'all the 

 fish and game. I will give you a few instances. Last June 

 a friend and myself visited a lake above here and had mag- 

 nificent sport with the bass and pike. The weather was 

 warm and dry all summer, and the lake fell to an unusual 

 level. Some parties placed nets in there and caught all the 

 fish in the lake. They scarcely left silversides~there. In 

 Saline River the shallows are all filled with traps and the 

 river is depopulated. It is the same way with game. A 

 few years ago, prairie chickens were very abundant on 

 Grand Prairie. But they are killed all the year round, in 

 season and out. Last season a friend and I went out with 

 good dogs, and after going twenty miles from the nearest 

 railway station, hunted two days and killed nine chickens. 

 I am told that they even gather the eggs for sale. I knaw 

 they kill the hens in the spring, I wish you success in your 

 efforts. We will tiy the Legi'slatuie again this winter, and 

 if we are fortunate enough to get a law, we will try and 

 have it enforced in this county at least. — Ama*teur Sports- 

 man. 



Whitestone Gcn C'l-cn.— The first annual meeting of 

 this club was held at Whitestone, L. I., Friday evening, the 

 7th. The officers and members have good cause to be 

 congratulated, as the club has lived and thrived— and more 

 than that, proved a success— a success, perhaps, far above 

 the fondest hopes of its originators. One of the chief objects 

 has been to enforce the State game laws, but thanks to this 

 law-abiding community no infractions of the law have come 

 under their notice. The club will, however, continue to ex- 

 ercise due vigilance in this respect. The following officers 

 were elected for the ensuing year; A. C. Montgomery, Presi- 

 dent; T. A Wilmerding, Vice-President; A. 0. Wilmerding, 

 Secretary, H. De Witt Smith, Treasurer. Executive Com- 

 mitte— Eugene Rubino H, De Witt Smith, A. C. Wilmer- 

 ding, Chas. Tatham, C. H. Simonds. 



Massachusetts. —Taunton. Mass., July 15, 1882.— Your 

 correspondent passed over several woodcock giounds yester- 

 day. The first two places I visited the biooks were ail dried 

 up, and the woodcock had gone. There had been some at 

 these grounds a shoit time before-, for I found borings in the 

 dampest spots. At the next place, there was a littTe water. 

 and I found quite a number of woodcock, the young fully 



