58 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Angling Literature. —Tlie receipt of the following 
letter is quite grateful to us, for though not inclined to 
blow our own trumpet, it is doubly pleasant for us to learn 
that the efforts of our correspondents are so fully appre¬ 
ciated :— 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
We are all enjoying the articles upon “Angling Literature, &c.” It is 
just such articles in due admixture that has kept the “F and S” way up 
above, and out of the domain of low sporting tastes and made it already 
welcome reading in our parlors. It is pleasant to know that we anglers 
have a respectable ancestry, and that all along the centuries there have 
been good fellows like us who could enjoy quiet, gentle, sensible plea¬ 
sures—the sunny meadows—the dark oid woods—and not the least, the 
wooing and winning the gentle game. The articles are unique, and only 
possible to one enjoying rare libiary privileges. There is a peculiar 
charm in these quaint and homely talks of our old anglers, sometimes 
commingling their philosophy and their use in rather comical shape. 
You are certainly giving a- real pleasure to many readers who have not a 
divided but a united taste for books and brooks. Macte Virtute. 
- - *<£•->- - - —- 
—We liave an avalanclie of most valuable news pertain¬ 
ing to yachting, shooting, general pastimes, and various 
other subjects, coming in upon us just as we are ready to 
go to press, and which it is utterly impossible to make 
room for. When the problem can be solved as to how to 
make a pint hold a quart, we shall be able to provide for 
the material which presses upon us each week. Either 
this, or we must enlarge our sheet, which we shall have to 
do at no distant day. 
-- 
High Priced. —The “tit-bit” of partridge which had fed 
on poisonous berries, eaten by Neilsson in Boston recently, 
cost (the opera people) $10,000. 
Dan Mace.— We fell into an error last week in recording 
the death of Dan Mace. Mr. Mace, although much emaci¬ 
ated, is alive and improving in health daily. Long may he 
handle the winning ribbons. 
. . — - 
‘—We are pleased to receive a letter from Mr. O. E. Lom¬ 
bard, of Woodstock, Conn., as we fancied the terrible ac¬ 
cident which lately befel him while out shooting would in¬ 
capacitate our friend from writing. 
-- 
—We have to thank Major Leech and John Rigby, Esq., 
for Irish papers, documents, &c. 
MEETING OF THE IRISH RIFLE ASSO¬ 
CIATION—CORESPONDENCE, ETC. 
[From the Dublin Evening Mail, February 13th, 1874.] 
The above association held its first meeting of the season 
on Tuesday at the offices, 110 Grafton street, to transact 
business of an important nature, the Right Hon. the Lord 
Mayor, M. P. in the chair. 
Major Leech addressed the meeting, and said that the 
important matter he had to submit for their consideration 
was the great match between the Irish (now champions of 
Great Britain) and the American nations. He then read 
the challenge, in which he (Major Leech) offered to bring a 
team of Irishmen, armed with Rigby rifles, to compete 
with the chosen shots of America, armed with American- 
made rifles, on their own ground. 
To this challenge the Americans have responded, and 
Colonel Wingate, who is Secretary of the National Rifle 
Association of America, writes to say that they are ready 
to accept the challenge, provided the 1,100 yards range be 
given up, leaving the ranges at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. 
A programme of the proposed match was then presented 
by Major Leech to the meeting, which excited consider¬ 
able discussion, and at length was finally agreed to, the 
council waiving the 1,100 yards in deference to the ex¬ 
pressed wish of the Americans. 
The following resolution was then carried unanimously 
Resolved, That the council, having read the letter dated 
31st October, 1873, addressed to J. Gordon Bennett, Esq., 
' New York, by Arthur B. Leech, Esq., and the accompany¬ 
ing challenge to the riflemen of America from the riflemen 
of Ireland, represented bv the members of the Irish Rifle 
Association; also letter, dated 20th December, 1873, from 
George W. Wingate, Esq., Secretary National Rifle Asso¬ 
ciation of America, and Major Leech’s reply thereto, dated 
16th January, 1874, fully approve of the steps which have 
been taken to inaugurate an International Rifle Match be¬ 
tween Ireland and America, and trust that the arrange¬ 
ments proposed will^be carried to a successful termina¬ 
tion. 
It was then proposed and carried—“That the programme 
before the council, specifying the terms of the match, be 
adopted, and that Major Leech be requested to forward 
the same to the National Rifle Association of America.” 
Major-Leech then read the challenge sent to J. Gordon 
Bennett, Esq., under date of October 31st, 1873, which was 
followed by Colonel Wingate’s reply of December 20th, 
1873, with the acceptance of the terms proposed by Cap¬ 
tain Wingate, relative to 1,000 yards instead of 1,100, in a 
letter written to Major Leech on the 16th of January. (See 
Forest and Stream, Nos. 16, 21, and 26). 
The following letter from Major Leech, with the pro¬ 
gramme of match, have been sent us by Colonel Wingate 
for publication:— 
Office Irish Rifle Association, ) 
Dublin, 110 Grafton street., 
February 14th, 1874. ) 
Dear Sir: —I beg to announce to you that at a meeting 
of the council of the Irish Rifle Association, held here on 
Tuesday last, the 10th instant, I submitted a programme of 
the proposecl International Rifle Match between Ireland and 
America for the consideration of the council, which, Tam 
happy to announce to you, has been agreed upon and 
adopted by the council in the form which 1 now have the 
pleasure to send you in duplicate. You will be pleased to 
observe that the council, acting pnthe suggestion contained 
in your letter of the 20th of December, 1873, have omitted 
the 1,100 yards range mentioned in my original challenge. 
With respect to the team, you will also see I reserved the 
right of limiting it to not less than four men or more than 
eight. This is unavoidable, as you will no doubt see, be¬ 
cause it is impossible at the present time to count with cer¬ 
tainty on the exact number of the team which I can bring 
with me, or who could take part in the match. I need not 
dwell upon the variety of possible accidental circumstances 
that render it impossible for me to name definitely a larger 
number than four, although I shall endeavor to increase it, 
and hope that the climate of America, notwithstanding 
our sea sickness, will enable us to shoot with sufficient pre¬ 
cision to make the match interesting. It does not occur to 
me that I need at present dwell upon any other portion of 
the programme, which varies so little from the original chal¬ 
lenge, save with reference to the period of the year, no other 
time would suit us. We have our meeting in Dublin in 
May or June, and at Wimbledon from the 11th of July to 
the end of that month, and the August game shooting also 
interferes; thus it is that I suggest anytime between the 
loth of September and the 15th of October for the match, and 
would be glad to hear further from you as to the date you 
would consider best. I also send you several Dublin news¬ 
papers, which refer to the proceedings (also published) with 
evident satisfaction, and whenever you and your friends 
visit our rifle gatherings here, you may rest assured that 
no effort on our part will be spared to make the visit agree¬ 
able to you all. * * * * 
Believe me, dear sir, yours most truty, 
Arthur B. Leech. 
To George W. Wingate, Esq., Secretary National Rife 
Associa tion of America. 
PROGRAMME. 
Programme of the International Rifle Match between the 
riflemen of the United States of America and the riflemen 
of Ireland, represented by a team to be chosen from the 
members of the Irish Rifle Association, to take place in 
America not sooner than the 15th of September or later 
than the 15th of October, 1874, on the following terms, 
viz:— 
Team —Each team to consist of not more than eight or 
less than four men, at the option of the Irish, whose deci¬ 
sion will be declared on their arrival at New York. The 
American team to be composed exclusively of riflemen 
born in the United States. The Irish team to consist of 
men qualified to shoot in the Irish eight at Wimbledon. 
Rifles —Any, not exceeding ten pounds weight; mini¬ 
mum pull of trigger three pounds. The Americans to 
shoot with rifles of bona fide American manufacture. The 
Irish to shoot with rifles manufactured by Messrs. John 
Rigby & Co., of Dublin 
Sights, ammunitions, targets, and marking —To be 
according to printed regulations in force at Wimbledon 
1873, as annexed hereto, marked A. 
Ranges —Eight hundred yards, nine hundred yards, and 
one thousand yards. 
Number of shots —Fifteen at each range by each com¬ 
petitor. 
Previous practice —The Irish team to be allowed the 
use of the range for practice for at least tw 7 o days before 
the match. 
Position —Any; no artificial rest to be used either for the 
rifle or person of the shooter. 
Mr. Leech, on the part of the Irish team, guarantees to 
deposit, on his arrival at New York,, with the National 
Rifle Association of America, the sum of one hundred 
pounds sterling, a like sum to be deposited by the Ameri¬ 
can team, and this sum of £200 to be handed over to the 
captain for division among the members of the winning 
team. 
Targets, range, and all accessories for carrying out the 
match to devolve on the Americans. The Americans to 
choose a referee to act for their team. Mr. Leech will act 
in the capacity of referee for the Irish team, and the two 
referees shall mutually select an umpire to whom, in case 
of difference of opinion, they shall refer, and whose der 
cision shall be final. 
The terms of the match to be signed by-, on be¬ 
half of the American National Rifle Association, arid by 
Arthur Blennerhasset Leech on behalf of the Irish team. 
Duplicate copies of this programme to be exchanged, 
and all necessary arrangements to be completed on or be¬ 
fore the 1st day of June, 1874. 
Should either team fail to make an appearance on the 
day and hour agreed upon for the match, the team then 
present may claim the championship and stakes. 
From Mr. John Rigby, a leading rifleman of the Irish 
team, we have received a most interesting letter in regard 
to the.prize money system, which v r e publish:— 
No. 24 Suffolk St., Durlin, February 12, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
* * * * i commend to your attention the financial state¬ 
ment and the magnitude of the Wimbledon prize list. I 
regret to have toldiffer from your journal as to the money 
prizes. Believe me, they are indispensable to a continu¬ 
ously successful enterprise for prize shooting. My mean¬ 
ing is that a -system of medals, cups, or other prizes in 
kind soon loses the interest of novelty. After a couple of 
years men will not take the trouble or incur the expense at¬ 
tending rifle shooting. New men may come in, but win¬ 
ners will not care to try again and again to win medals and 
such tilings whose possession ceases to interest when they 
are multiplied. The danger of offering money prizes is 
chimerical. There is at Wimbledon no" gambling or spec¬ 
ulation of any objectionable kind, but the expectation of 
winning enough to pay one’s expenses, and the chances of 
a sum which will enable a man t<> buy such a prize as he 
really desires or wants, is a continuous incentive to old men 
to keep up practice and for new men to come fonvard. 
Again, it is a substantial aid to the funds. To illustrate 
this, see the large sum paid by aspirants for the Queen’s 
prize, the Alexandra, etc., in excess of the amount of 
prizes. This, however, can only be counted on in matches 
open to the great body of military competitors, all shoot¬ 
ing with the same description of arms, or at least so armed 
that none have by the choice of arms an advantage over 
others. The knowledge of this is a first condition for a 
large entry. Other competitions, called here “Any Rifle 
Competitions,” attract heavier entries, but are of equal value 
as tending to improve the manufacture of rifles and deter¬ 
mine the skill of competitors more exactly than can be 
done when the error of the shooter and the error of the 
gun are inextricably mixed up together. The entries in 
these Any Rifle .Competitions are limited, because to be 
successful entails more expense on the competitor, who 
must spare no cost to acquire the best arm, also because it 
is only the minority of men for whom the exact sciences 
liave interest, and the uncertainty which affects the use of 
the rougher military arms gives to a greater number chances 
of winning. I feel assured that if properly handled the 
National Rifle Association of America has a great future 
but it should be sought in the direction of making it the 
central organizing body of a system of State associations 
each in turn the centre of numerous local rifle ranges and 
clubs. Yours very truly, ' J. R IGBY 
As Mr. Rigby, who is a distinguished member of th° 
Irish team, and whom we trust to see in the United Stales" 
speaks from a much more extended experience than has 
been had by any one here, his suggestions are entitled to our 
fullest consideration. Nevertheless, the better opinion with 
us seems to be cn the other side. When prizes of medals 
or cups have become a drug with us it is quite possible that 
money prizes will of necessity be adopted. That day is too 
far in the future for us yet to cause any anxiety. At pres¬ 
ent the demand for the modest prizes offered by us, such as 
badges, medals, and cups, is an eager one, and the disincli¬ 
nation to w 7 in money (though all of us care for the almighty 
dollar) seems quite pronounced. We do not pretend to say 
that our opinion in regard to ignoring money prizes in all 
cases is fixed. At an All Comers’ match, as suggested by 
our Canadian correspondent, where men have to come a 
thousand miles, something may be done in the way of a 
money prize in order to defray the expenses of the win¬ 
ners. But we are pretty well satisfied that so far the dis 
tinction of bearing a- medal by the volunteer, won by his 
skill at Creedmoor, is all that our soldiers care for. 
jf hot (jfjtttn and Iffifit. 
GAME IN SE ASON F OR MARCH. 
.Snipe, Brant, Ducks and Wild Fowl generally. 
FOR FLORIDA. 
Red Deer, Cm levs Virginictnus) Wild Turkey, Meleagns gollopavo.) 
Woodcock, Philohela minor.) Quail, Ortyx 'Virginianus.) 
Snipe, Plover, Curlew, etc., in great 
variety. 
\TTnder the head of “ Game , and Fish m Season ” we can only specify in 
general terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 
that were we to attempt to particularize we coulcl do no less than publish 
those entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in question. This 
would require a great amount of our space. In designating game tve are 
guided by the laws of nature , upon which all legislation is founded , and 
our readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws of their re¬ 
spective States for constant reference. Otherwise , our attempts to assist them 
ivill only create confusion .] 
—With first of March the Game Season closed, and we 
are pleased to notice the alacrity with which vendors have 
complied with the requirements of the law. For the past 
two weeks the price of game in market has ruled very low, 
grouse, ducks, venison, &c., being sold at prices anything 
but remunerative. Quail being scarce were held at the 
old standard price of $2,75 per dozen. During the past 
few weeks the quantity of ruffed grouse sent to our mark¬ 
ets was very small • compared" with the beginning of the 
season, when they were very abundant, and the stands 
were bare when the first of March came. Ruffed grouse 
and prairie hens have sold during the. season at an average 
price of eighty cents per pair; a year,ago $1 00 to $1 50. As 
quail are the most desirable of game birds,- there is always 
a steady demand for them, and consequently their raarke'; 
price does not fluctuate like that of grouse. Many dealers 
cleared out their lofts and storehouses of stale venison and 
deer skins a week before the 1st, and there has been hut 
little deer meat received in New York for several w T eeks. 
For months it lias been a drug; dealers, particularly com¬ 
mission merchats, have been much dissatisfied at sales and 
prices, and have not hesitated to say so. One of the 
largest remarked that he had “soured on venison,” and if 
others could become equally disgusted, pot hunters’ sales 
would he limited, and such venison as reached our mark¬ 
ets would all he sold, instead of a portion of it spoiling for 
want of purchasers. 
—There is absolutely no game left for the sportsman ex¬ 
cept the snipe and wild fowl that are now beginning their 
spring migrations to the north. Sni pe shooting will he 
good presently. There will be a few days of good duck 
shooting, though nearly all the old squaws and coots (scoter, 
velvet, and surf ducks,) have left our bays, and many 
broad bills have followed. 
Last w^eek the song birds also began to move north in 
considerable numbers. Large flocks, comprising robins, 
bluebirds, red-wing blackbirds, and cow buntings were seen 
passing over Long Island. Our associate, Mr. J. H. Batty, 
tells ns that be saw several young bald eagles in their gay 
plumage passing northward, and that the. greater body of 
herring and black-backed gulls, have left our coast for 
their feeding grounds in the north, and many of their 
favorite sandbars are nearly deserted. In some specimens 
of the Larus argentatus , which he dissected a week ago, 
some of the eggs were enlarged to the size of a No. 2 shot. 
Individuals of the same species collected at the same sea¬ 
son last year, sliow r ed uo enlargement of the ovaries. Such 
sings speak favorably for an early ^spring. 
—•Now 7 that spring opens with its promise of the speedy 
return of the migrating birds, our readers will be pleased 
to learn of desirable localities for the prosecution of their 
favorite sport. One of these especially noted for its snipe 
shooting, is the broad extent of marshes and prairies that 
lie back of the Wabash River, some ten or twelve miles 
from Yincennes, in Indiana. Our correspondent “Glano” 
knows the ground well, and he tells us that snipe are very 
abundant there in March. There is good hotel accomoda¬ 
tion, and one can drive across the prairie in a wagon to 
the hunting ground, though obliged to make many detours 
to- avoid swamps and sloughs. Several times, our inform¬ 
ant says, he was obliged to turn aside from his course to 
avoid running over prairie hens, which were sitting! What 
a country for “chickens” this must be! Next fall, when 
the little ones have grown large and strong of wring, per- 
