A.PJUX K, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



187 



T 1 



FISHER ISLAND CLUB'S QUAIL. 



-VRE Fisher Island Club has, up to date, received about 

 tire hundred and fifty quail, from Tennessee mostly. 

 We hare bad them sent in four shipments, and our birds 

 have arrived in good condition in the majority of cases, and 

 were a fine lot. 



The sexes were well matched, leaving a few hens without 

 mates. There is quite a difference noticeable in the size of 

 birds, showing plainly that some are of a very late hatching, 

 while there seems to be none or very little difference in the 

 size of the old birds from those killed here in our State. 



The mortality I consider very light for so long a confine- 

 ment, the birds being in Cages two months and over. Never- 

 theless, we have not' "lost more than about one hundred, while 



I know that dealers and clubs have, for several seasons in 

 succession, not been able to save one hundred quail out of 

 four or five huudred. I know of one party who has lost 

 every bird he had last season. 



We have taken the best of care of our birds in every par- 

 ticular; have kept, them as clean as possible, fed them early 

 in the morning with wheat screeniug, buckwheat, and now 

 and then some chopped beef; then watered them about 10 or 



II o'clock, and fed in the af lemon some greens, sprouts, 

 apples. Held salad, etc. The water dishes were removed 

 before the green stuff, was given, and the birds had never any 

 filthy water in the coops and cages. 



I found that the birds have a habit of standing in the 

 wiiter dishes at night and were soiliug them badly, so I 

 came to the conclusion this Avas the cause of a great deal of 

 disease among birds that were allowed this habit, and I. know 

 of some that had died with bowel diseases. Next in im- 

 portance to clean water is plenty of sand and gravel, which 

 they enjoy very much. 



Most of our dead birds showed injuries about the head, or 

 had broken legs, and were trampled to a pulp almost, in a 

 short time. I also believe there is a good deal of fierce fight- 

 ing among the birds, with fatal results, conditions over 

 which we have no control and for which there is no remedy. 

 Too much dry feeding kills many birds also, and green feed 

 is enjoyed very much by them 'and is no doubt abetter 

 bowel regulator than bad water. We have over 400 birds 

 yet, ready to liberate in a few days. 



Max Wenzel, Secretary. 

 Hoboken, N. J., March 36. 



MUCILAGED WADS. 



TWO articles have recently appeared in your columns 

 under the head of "Mucilage-Edge Wads." Being the 

 inventor of the wad referred to by "Sycamore," I naturally 

 felt an interest in the subject. I have been careful to sub- 

 mit my wad to the examination of many experienced sports- 

 men, and in. every case the verdict has been favorable. 



Last fall I loaded forty shells with my wads, put them 

 loosely into a leather pouch, threw it across my shoulder, 

 mounted my horse, and galloped four miles into the country, 

 allowing the pouch to bob freely all the while. A practiced 

 gunner "joined me, and we spent several hours in wing-shoot- 

 ing. About one-half of the shells were fired. On my return 

 the wads in the loaded shells were as firmly seated as ever. 

 Those shells which had been discharged, although second 

 quality, and not such as the manufacturers claim can be 

 reloaded after having been crimped, were apparently in as 

 good condition as when first put into the pouch. 



My invention consists of an ordinary pasteboard wad upon 

 which is glued a round piece of cambric, (thin, strong paper 

 will do) about three-fourths of an inch greater in diameter 

 than that of the disc, leaving a margin all around of about 

 three-eighths of an inch. From four to eight equi-distant 

 triangular pieces of the margin are cut out, preferably the 

 latter number. The projecting portions of cambric or paper 

 ("fulls" "Falcon" calls them) between these kerfs are thin 

 coated with mucilage, The wad is inserted in the shell 

 cambric down, and when discharged the parts holding the 

 mucilage are reversed, so that the gum does not come in 

 contact, with the barrel of the gun. This is of vital import- 

 ance, as otherwise the moisture engendered by the explo- 

 sion would cause the gum to adhere to the barrels and 

 quickly foul them. That would be a fatal objection to 

 "mucilage-edge" wads; but mine is not properly a "muci- 

 lage-edge" wad. The wad proper holds no mucilage upon 

 the edge. 



I have also taken out a patent on a loader which moistens 

 the wad automatically, facilitates loading, and will be found 

 desirable by the fastidious sportsman who dislikes the lick- 

 ing business. Being a combined implement, it may also be 

 used in loading both shot and powder. 



M. S. Alexander. 



Moorefield. W. Va. 



CAMP COOKERY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As the fishing and camping season is approaching I thought 

 a few hints on camp cookery would not be out of plaee at 

 this season. One never looks for home comforts in camp, 

 but there are many little details, which, if attended to, 

 render camp life more enjoyable. Cooking is one of the 

 most important of these in my opinion. To make good 

 coffee, I put the ground coffee into the coffee pot with cold 

 water and set on the fire, as soon as it has boiled take it off, 

 pour in a little cold water to settle it and it is done. Coffee 

 made in this way pours clear and loses none of its aroma. 

 Coffee boiled too long loses its delicate aroma. It is bit- 

 ter and black, and in my opinion is unfit to drink, and I 

 think bad for digestion. I have found it so. Two ounces 

 or more of ground coffee to a quart of wateris myrule. Try 

 this, ye campers, and report to Fohest and Stream. 



Pew are prepared to make bread in camp, so 1 will dis- 

 pense with directions for making same, though I can make 

 good bread and biscuit. 



Irish potatoes should be peeled and the large ones cut to 

 conform to the size of the small ones, that is, all should be 

 as near of a size as possible, to insure their cooking done at 

 the same time. They should be put into the water while it 

 is boiling, a handful of salt should be added to the water 

 when the potatoes are put in, this will render ordinary 

 watery potatoes quite mealy and palatable. Sweet potatoes 

 should be cooked in the same way. 



Birds, such as quail, snipe, plover and all such, I think, 

 are best broiled. They should be dressed by picking the 

 feathers off and drawing, then split up the back; the blood, 

 etc., should be wiped off with a clean cloth. It improves 

 the flavor of the bird to be dressed in this way; if washed 

 the water is detrimental to a good broil. They should be 

 turned frequently, until done to taste, when they should be 



buttered and seasoned with pepper and salt. Some people 

 season while cooking, bat if such persons will try the above 

 way I am confident that they will always follow it. Teal 

 duck done as above are the best thing in the line of duck 

 that I have ever eaten. A bright bed of hickory coals is the 

 best for broiling. 



If desirable in my next will be pleased to give recipes for 

 cooking mallard duck, making Irish stew and a few camp 

 luxuries. K. 9. 



Lraittt Rock, Ark. 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



SNIPE have arrived in considerable numbers in the Dela- 

 _ ware, Maryland and New Jersey meadows, and on the 

 grounds about our city a few have been killed. The 

 meadows are very wet and the birds are scattered. Many 

 geese flew over Philadelphia last week during the night. 

 Some flocks were very low, judging from the gabble they 

 marie, which woke the writer from bis sleep. 



A letter from a sportsman friend residing in the Lehigh 

 Valley states that the snow is still plainly showing itself on 

 the northern sides of the mountains about him, and the win- 

 ter has been a very severe one. Over one hundred quail 

 trapped by their club have been kept over and will soon be 

 liberated. Nine prairie chickens have been put out in lower 

 Maryland, very near the same section where Dr. Purs- 

 sel J s birds were planted and bred. These birds will be pro- 

 tected by the farmers themselves, the whole neighborhood 

 having been interested. It is unfortunate so few prairie 

 hens were secured, and that at least fifty pairs were not libe- 

 rated. The wildfowl in our river appear to have already 

 paired off, as the flocks seen at rest on I he water are broken 

 up into couples, and indicate that before many days they 

 will be on their northward flight. We have every indica- 

 tion of an early and mild spring. In the New Jersey 

 swamps nesting woodcock have been found within a week. 

 Baymen at Barnegat and Tuckerton state that the spring 

 and autumn flights of redheads appear to be growing gi eater 

 each yeir in their section. This spring the flight was enor- 

 mous. The fowl, however, did not stop long, and were evi- 

 dently travelers. Box or battery shooting on their regular 

 feeding grounds may have occasioned this notable change 

 of habit or movement. Homo. 



Philadelphia, Pa., March 28. 



AN EXPLANATION. 



THE article under my signature in your issue of March 18, 

 headed "A Taxidermist's View of It," was not intended 

 as an opinion to favor any class. It was unfortunate that it 

 appeared under that title. It, however, carried with it a 

 meaning likely to be misconstrued by some, and thus at the 

 outset placed the writer in the light of "a man with an axe to 

 grind." 



I do think that all law-abiding sportsmen, ornithologists 

 and taxidermists, should have the benefit of laws that will 

 favor their pastimes or occupations, if such laws are made 

 as will not be detrimental to the general good. 



I cannot quite agree with my unknown friend from Wor- 

 cester, in Forest and Stream of March 20, who would al- 

 low a naturalist or taxidermist to be unlimited as to the time 

 for procuring his specimens. For I do believe in shutting 

 off everybody from shooting between June 1 and Sept. 1, 

 and it would-be still better if this latter date could be made 

 October, or even November. Exceptions to the summer 

 shooting of all birds should only be allowed to the very few 

 who are" making a study of their food for the benefit of the 

 general public. While I believe what I wrote March 13 re- 

 garding the time for the open season, yet I hope it has not 

 yet come to that pass that the season must be cut so short. 

 But it is evident, as the shooting of gums is improved and the 

 number of gunners increase, that the time for shooting must 

 be more limited. 



The proposed Massachusetts law makes no improvement 

 for the protection of that class of birds which most need it, 

 the shore birds. Consider the narrow belt they have to tra- 

 verse and the destruction wrought upon them as they pass 

 leisurely by in the surnmei and early fall, in contrast with 

 the quickness with which they go by in the spring. Also, 

 how unsuspecting in summer, and how wiJd in spring. On 

 every hand we learn of their rapid decrease. What shall be 

 done? The protection of this class of birds is most urgent. 

 Who will not do what he can to make laws that shall protect 

 them? We all know that the summer shooting is thinning 

 their ranks yearly. Will not the change of open season to 

 spring help their increase? Let the shore shooters who read 

 this paper give their opinions about it. 



The laws should be kept on all of our game birds until 

 such time as they may all he shot, for if taken off one earlier 

 than another it permits of the shooting of everything under 

 guise of that one. The later the law goes off in the fall the 

 more protection it is to our small birds also, for in general 

 when it goes off of partridges in September it gives the op- 

 portunity to every boy to kill anything he wishes to. The 

 majority of our small birds pass south in September, and 

 few are left after October. 



Another bird demands protection at once, and that is out- 

 wild pigeon. Formerly very abundant, it is now a scarce 

 bird except in a very few places. Probably the largest roosts 

 left are in Pennsylvania and Michigan. When the birds be- 

 gin to breed their nesting places are entered, and the birds 

 killed in every possible way, their tails pulled out, and they 

 are packed in barrels, large numbers of which are sent to 

 New York and •Chicago. Numerous eggs ready to be laid 

 are taken from these birds. 



What will Florida scenery be with the beautiful herons 

 and other tropical birds exterminated? And yet the breed- 

 ing places are entered and the beautiful birds"slain by hun- 

 dreds and thousands for the few plume feathers growing 

 upon their backs, and also by the visitors there just for sport. 

 The writer was informed, "and has no cause to doubt it 

 either, that an Englishman visited Pelican Island, in Indian 

 River, with some 2,000 cartridges, nearly all of which were 

 used on the pelicans, and he left the ground strewn with 

 the dead. No words seem adequate in condemning such an 

 act as this. But so it is in many other places also." 



The same dates that apply to one locality will not exactly 

 fit another. The author takes for a standpoint the Middle 

 States and New England, between the fortieth and forty- 

 third parallels. The North or South will require later or 

 earlier dates, 



The only object the writer has in placing himself antagon- 

 istic to public opinion is to try to assist in the better pro- 

 tection of our birds, and in the making of laws that Snail be 

 just to all of the gunning fraternity, F- J. TrNGXEX. • 



TINKERING THE WOODCOCK LAW. 



Editor ForeU and Stream: 



I notice here a bill introduced iu the Semite by Senator 

 Otis, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Game Laws, 

 relating to Suffolk and Queens counties, limiting the part- 

 ridge season to November and December, but allowing July 

 woodcock shooting. 



Allow me to ask through your columns if you know any- 

 thing of the history or object of this bill ? 



It looks at this distance like a trick or scheme by some 

 hotel interest to draw New York patronage thither to dine 

 on wookcock "chicks" on the "half shell" out of season, or 

 a pretext under which pot-hunters and law-breakers may 

 operate over the surrounding country to supply that par- 

 ticular market at enhanced prices. 



The subject is worth consideration, since schemes of this 

 kind are constantly pouring in from that vicinity, to the 

 prejudice and demoralization of the best efforts 'for pro- 

 tection. 



Do the better portion of the sportsmen of these counties 

 really desire such a law? Is it justified by any sound reason 

 or condition of things? 



If I understand the history of woodcock, they frequently 

 hatch a second brood in Juiy. If such be true in that sec : 

 tion, it is a good reason against the bill, impatience of indi- 

 viduals to shoot before the season opens to the contrary not- 

 withstanding. 



The original game law opened the season July 4. It was 

 changed by common consent of sportsmen as being in every 

 way bad practice. The bill being a local one, is of doubtful 

 constitutionality. I think the people of these couuties will 

 soon want it repealed, because there will be nothing left 

 when August comes, and September will probabty be bar- 

 ren of sport. Perhaps that is the very object of the law. I 

 wait to see whether or not Senator Otis is lending his name 

 and position to a mere scheme of this sort to gobble up my 

 chicks. Motiier Woodcock. 



Albany, NY.. March 20. 



CRUISING IN FLORIDA. 



ARRIVED here last night after a very pleasant trip by 

 way of Clear Water Harbor, Tampa Bay and Char- 

 lotte Harbor. Found abundance of game on the way. 

 Plover, snipe (Wilson's), curlew, humility, etc., etc., for 

 birds; deer, 'coon and bob cats on the river. Have sur- 

 feited on wild turkey since leaving Fort Myers. 



The Caloosahatchee is a beautiful river. I think it far 

 superior to the St. Johns. Game is plenty; fish few and far 

 between. Scenery delightful. Mosquitoes are somewhat 

 troublesome, but nothing to what I have seen in New Jersey. 



Our party consists of two gentlemen from the Hub and 

 myself. We left Tarpon Springs, Fla., on the 20th of 

 February bound forKissimme; leave here to-day by way of 

 the canal for Okechobee. Have had glorious sport, and ex- 

 pect more of it. The weather is all that could be desired; 

 southerly winds, days clear and pleasant, nights cool and 

 sieepf ul Healths all are Al. Appetites good, provisions ad lib. 



Any of your readers who wish a pleasant cruise and 

 "heaps o' fun," should try Charlotte Harbor and the Caloosa- 

 hatchee. 



You will probably hear from me again when I reach Kis- 

 simme, when possibly I may have more to say. Till then 

 addio. Tarpon. 



Headwaters Caloosahatchbe River, Fla., Match 14. 



Long Island Notes. — I took a stroll on the meadows the 

 other day with my old setter to interview that mythical 

 snipe, but he scaiped ; I did not see any markings, nor borings. 

 We have very few snipe around this locality, and ten guns 

 for each bird. Crows are abundant and many carcasses lie 

 on the meadows. There are a few hawks, redwing black- 

 bird, bluebirds, robins and other birds. Meadow larks stay 

 all winter. I have not seen any woodcock; in fact don't 

 look for them. I hope that the sportsmen of Pennsylvania, 

 New York, New Jersey, and Conneticut will unite and 

 abolish spring and summer shooting. October 1 is early 

 enough. I wish that all clubs would offer bounties for owls, 

 hawks, skunks, foxes, weasels and snakes. This would 

 help increase game mightily. — Friar Tuck (Flatbush, L. I.. 

 March 21.) 



I fail to agree with your correspondent, signed "16-Bore," 

 in your last issue, who writes of summer woodcock shooting. 

 I have always been in favor of July shooting. And as far as 

 my experience goes, have found the birds well grown, and 

 frequently able to fly well by May I, and if we miss the July 

 shooting we miss all, as we never get any fall shooting. He 

 speaks of the partridges being diminished by summer wood- 

 cock shooting ; it may be so in some localities, but not here. 

 We might have some of the best partridge shooting in the 

 State of New York if snaring could be prohibited. I have 

 known between two and three hundred partridges per week 

 shipped from this depot to the New York market, and be- 

 tween two and three thousand during the months of Septem- 

 ber and October, and so long as the season continues to open 

 September 1, the snaring will continue, and I know of no 

 reason why the law should not be amended for the season to 

 open November 1, or at the same time of quail shooting, as 

 then the partridges would be preserved, and not snared un- 

 der cover of killing to escape the penalty of the law. This 

 is applicable to Queens and Suffolk counties.— G. W.R. (Man- 

 orville, L. I.). [We have seen very good woodcock shooting 

 on Long Island in October and November. There is no 

 doubt that, were spring and summer shooting abolished, 

 birds of all kinds would sensibly increase.] 



He Agrees with "Chasseur." — Allow me to applaud 

 "Chasseur" in his utterances anent the improved breech- 

 loading rifle, .44-90-500-60-496-3931 craze. What in the 

 name of common sense is anything more effective than we 

 now have, or as much s», needed for? Simply to add to 

 already plethoric bags and to utterly annihilate game. This 

 it is, pure and simple. Better far were it, for keen enjoy- 

 ment and satisfaction, that there were no repeating rifles. 

 If it were absolutely necessary for the glory and renown of 

 Me Lud, or anybody else, to penetrate the fastnesses of the 

 mountains in search of the cougar and grizzly, let him take 

 his life and singleshot in his hands and fight it out on that 

 line. It is entirely probable that some dudes would turn up 

 missing, but that wouldn't hurt. It is a characteristic Ameri- 

 can idea to get all that is to be had in the shortest space of 

 time, whether in domain of sport or business. It is un- 

 healthy. The candle burns too fast. Call a halt. — S. 



Ducks in Iowa. — Marshalltown, la., March 27. — Ducks 

 are beginning to come in in goodly quantities, but se> large a 

 territory is covered bv water thai one cannot get near them, 

 -L.T. D, ' . " 



