Forest and Stream. 



A Weekly Journal of the Rod and Gun. 



Terms, $4 a Year. 10 Ots. a Copt. 1 

 Six Months, $2. ) 



NEW YORK, MAY 1, 1884. 



( VOL. XXIL-No. 14. 



I Nog. 89 & 40 Park Row, New York. 



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CONTENTS. 



Editorial. 



Dynamite Guns. 



Yacht Measurement in the East. 



An Elk Hunt. 

 The Sportsman Tourist. 



Charleston to Cape Roman. 



Where the Bung Tree Grows. 

 Natural History. 



Application of Trinomial No- 

 menclature to Zoology. 



Deer in the Adirondacks. 

 Game Bag and Gun. 



The Woodcoilc. 



The Performance of Shotguns. 



Michigan Notes. 



Life Saving Crew Gunners. 



Concerning Robins. 



Major Joseph Verity. 



Long Island Game Protection. 



Air Resistance. 

 Sea and River Fishing. 



Opening of the Maine Season. 



For New York Anglers. 



Fly-Books. 



Dowels and Reel Seats. 



Draining the Androscoggins. 

 Fishcttlture. 



American Fishcuitural Associ- 

 ation. 



The New York Fish Commission 



Fishculture in Colorado. 



The Kennel. 



The New York Dog Show. 



Retrievers. 



American English Beagle Club. 



St. Louis Dog Show. 



Non-Sportinsr Dogs. 



'Ware the Beagle. 



English Kennel Notes. 



Kennel Management. 



Kennel Notes. 

 Rifle and Trap Shooting. 



Range and Gallery. 



The Trap. 

 Canoeing. 



Mohican C. C. 



The Mohicans of Albany. 



The Chart Locker. 

 Wisconsin Rivers. 



The Log Book. 

 Caloosahatchee River and 

 Lake Okeechobee. 



A Local Meet at Lake George. 



Amateur Canoe Building. — xiv. 

 Yachting. 



A Fine Yacht. 



International Amateur Channel 

 Match. 



A Bit of Real Yachting. 



New England Y. R. A. 



Nyssa, 

 Answers to Correspondents. 



YACHT MEASUREMENT IN THE EAST. 

 A CORRESPONDENT informs us that the sentiment 

 -^*- among the representatives of the New England Y. 

 R. A. was in favor of the Seawanhaka sail area and length 

 rule for the measurement of large yachts. But the greater 

 simplicity of gauging by plain length was considered in- 

 ducement enough to apply that method to the small boats, 

 which constitute the great majority of the racers in Eastern 

 waters, where many of the entries still are "open boats." 

 The association also realized the necessity of proposing a 

 rule which would not cause dissension at the outset, hence 

 the recommendation of the plan hitherto generally fallowed 

 by the various local clubs in their individual capacity. This 

 is well enough, perhaps, for the time being, though we had 

 wished for reformatory legislation at the outset. As the 

 average tonnage of racing yachts is destined to grow very 

 fast all over the country, the association may in the future 

 see fit to proclaim the sail area and length rule for the larger 

 classes and confine simple length measurement to open boats, 

 as it ought to. If this aspect of the matter is kept in view, 

 the association may be trusted to introduce the desired modi- 

 fication when the proper time arrives in its opinion. The 

 danger we foresee in such a course is the liability to crys- 

 tallize a makeshift into a permanent custom, as even large 

 yachts built under a plain length rule will be so big on their 

 loadline, and so heavily sparred that vested interests in the 

 future may become too strong to be forced to a return of an 

 equitable policy under which other styles shall receive jus- 

 tice, and that in effect racing yachts will become such ex- 

 pensive and unwieldy affairs as to steadily differentiate the 

 huge racer from the economically-formed cruiser more and 

 more every year, much to the detriment of the whole sport. 

 When that time arrives, as it is sure to do, no one can blame 

 us for not having clearly pointed out the drift . events are 

 bound to take in ample time to head off the consequences. 

 Only one particular style of yacht can flourish under length 

 measurement, and we question the policy of forcing experi- 

 ment and custom into one narrow rut by prejudicial 

 legislation. 



DEFEAT OF THE NEW ENGLAND BILL. 



r pHE defeat of the proposed game law by the Massachu- 

 ■*- setts House of Representatives is disgraceful from the 

 position in which it puts that State with the rest of New 

 England. A convention was held early in the season in 

 Boston, and it was well attended by delegates representing 

 the best fish and game protective interests of the other New 

 England States. A code of game laws was decided upon as 

 best fitting the wants of New England, and delegates agreed 

 that if Massachusetts would lead off and adopt the new code, 

 they would see that each of their own States did the same. 

 The bill passed the Massachusetts Senate without opposition, 

 and its chances were just as good in the House. 



But the market interest in Bosten predominates. The 

 shrewd Yankees under Faneuil Hall and in and about Fanouil 

 Hall Market, would willingly see the last quail, the last 

 woodcock, the last partridge or deer that the woods were 

 ever to bestow, brought to their doors, provided the chance 

 appeared to make a dime or a dollar upon it. Indeed, these 

 tradesmen are greatly disturbed bpcause the game laws of 

 Maine have stopped their selfish traffic from that direction. 

 The proposed universal game law for New England — one of 

 the best game bills ever drafted— frightened them. They 

 tried dining and wining the members of the committee and 

 of the Senate. Here they failed; but there were members 

 of the House found to be more readily gullible. A 

 good dinner, a theater ticket, a bunch of cigars or a glass of 

 beer went a good ways in these members' notions. They came 

 into the House and voted squarely against a game law de- 

 signed to protect their own interests — their own property — 

 to please fifty marketmen, whose only object is to make a 

 dollar. But the question is not dead yet. There is a grow- 

 ing public sentiment, and Boston market as "the dumping 

 ground" for the last relics of the fish and game of New 

 England will yet be dammed up by some good, wholesome 

 legislation. 



DYNAMITE GUNS. 



T) ECENT experiments in the neighborhood of this city 

 -*-* seem to indicate that the use of dynamite introduced 

 into missiles will soon become general. The difficulty here- 

 tofore has been, that the cartridge containing this powerful 

 explosive at the front end, when tired with the ordinary gun- 

 powder charge, was sure to compel the dynamite to explode 

 simultaneously with the ignition of the powder. This, of 

 course, was a vital objection, and in place of having the de- 

 structive effect a mile or more away, the tearing apart was 

 upon the gun itself. Many devices were arranged to meet 

 this difficulty, and a very fair result was obtained by the use 

 of compressed air as a motor, in place of the ordinary black 

 powder. The air was compressed in machines constructed 

 for the purpose, and then introduced into the weapons be- 

 hind the peculiarly devised cartridge, which carried a very 

 destructive charge of dynamite at its head. 



The results of many trials showed that the question of 

 the use of the nitro-glycerine explosive has been answered 

 in a certain manner. The gun used was, however, a very 

 unwieldy contrivance, and there were other objections. To 

 meet these came further inventive effort, and in a short time 

 a company of experts were invited to witness the trial of a 

 compound cartridge which was inserted in an ordinary Rod- 

 man gun and fired with a charge of ordinary gunnery pow- 

 der, when away went the cartridge head with a two-pound 

 charge of dynamite snugly tucked within it, off over the 

 meadows to delve a great cellar pit in the earth a mile away. 

 The method of so taking off the suddenness of the start, 

 which had been the stumbling block in previous trials, was 

 in the use of a rubber buffer wad. Tliis seemed to answer 

 every one of the demands of such a weapon, and so mode- 

 rated the suddenness of the impact of the powder gas upon 

 the dynamite-charged ball that they were enabled to fire re- 

 peated charges. 



This simplification of the methods of using the dynamite, 

 suggests at once the question of how soon this powerful agent 

 of destruction may be adapted to the smallw class of arms, 

 and the rifleman of the near future be prepared to use a bul- 

 let, beside which the express bullets of to-day will be com- 

 paratively harmless, against certain classes of game or 

 wild animals where the important point is to kill surely and 

 swiftly. To put into the body of a wolf a bullet which shall 

 create a general destruction of the animal's interior will be 

 an important point, and if this can be done with as much 

 safety to the marksman as though he were using the present 

 form of cartridge, there would'doubtless be a large demand 

 for such an article. 



In warfare the use even of the larger form of dynamite 



cartridge will produce very marked results, and add one 

 more to the other important changes brought about by the 

 introduction of this modern agent. When the use extends 

 to the small arms the change will be forced at a rapid gait. 

 With two armies facing each other and each provided with 

 weapons so surely destructive as these dynamite bullets may 

 be made, war will become too certainly deadly for future 

 pursuit and the dream of the peace disciples be brought to a 

 reality by the very perfection of the weapons of destruction. 

 If to the accuracy which already marks the small arm of to- 

 day be added the terrible destructiveness which would come 

 with the use of this new cartridge, to go to war would be 

 little less than a deliberate suicide, and the determined 

 bravery and gathered skill of the most hardy of veterans will 

 be set at naught by the force of a mere mob in whose hands 

 this new missile was placed. 



The grimy black powder of the past centuries should make 

 way for something which more exactly represents the knowl- 

 edge of modern time in chemical and mechanical sciences. 

 The day will come when a rifle magazine of the ordinary 

 size will contain as many times more than the present supply 

 of cartridges, and their destructive power will be increased 

 in inverse ratio to the space saved. The possibilities of the 

 future in the matter of changes in ammunition are very 

 great, and the army of inventors now busy upon the prob- 

 lem of how best to apply the discoveries recently made to 

 the demands of the hour, cannot be expected much longer to 

 fail in their endeavors and aims. How far the methods of 

 sportsmen will be affected is at present only an interesting 

 speculation, but the time is rife for change, and the altera- 

 tions will come in the near future. 



American Ornithologists will be interested in learning 

 that Dr. Elliott Coues is about to visit England. It will be 

 remembered that some years ago Dr. Coues received a memo- 

 rial, signed by most of the leading scientific men of Great 

 Britain, inviting him to visit Europe for the purpose of con- 

 sulting foreign libraries in furtherance of his great work, 

 the "Bibliography of Ornithology," and it will be a matter 

 of congratulation among ornithologists everywhere that the 

 author of this important undertaking is now able to avail him- 

 self of this invitation. The trip is undertaken ostensibly for 

 health and recreation, but those who know the energy 

 with which Dr. Coues works, will be slow to believe that this 

 summer vacation will be spent in idleness. The use of tri- 

 nomials in ornithological nomenclature has become pretty 

 well established in America, and is now agitating the British 

 mind; and Dr. Coues, as Vice-president of the A. O. U., will 

 no doubt give much attention to enlightening our English 

 friends on this and kindred points. There are already signs 

 that the "American idea" of trinomials is taking root in 

 England, and it would not be surprising if a speedy alliance 

 were brought about between the American and British 

 schools of ornithology. The question is certainly of very great 

 interest, and one upon which substantial agreement among 

 English-speaking naturalists is greatly to be desired. Dr. 

 Coues expects to sail May 24 on the Guion steamer Oregon. 



A Fund for Long Island. — In another column appears 

 a circular, of interest to Long Island sportsmen. That the 

 game laws cannot be enforced without men or money is a 

 proposition which meets general acceptance, and this appeal 

 from Game Protector Whitaker deserves the careful con- 

 sideration of those who visit Long Island to shoot or fish. 

 The gentlemen named in the circular have consented to re- 

 ceive the money contributed and to supervise its expendi- 

 ture, and the movement, if carried on with energy, cannot 

 fail to be productive of good. We have consented, at the 

 request of Mr. Whitaker, to receive subscriptions to this 

 fund, which we will hand over to the committee as fast as 

 received. Long Island, from its geographical position, offers 

 an excellent field for this experiment, which, if successful 

 here, may be extended to other regions. 



Rainbow Trout.— Wc would call attention to the para- 

 graph in our notice of the report of the New York Fish 

 Commission concerning these fish. It is beginning to be 

 learned that they are migratory, and do not remain in brooks. 

 We have never been much in favor of this fish, because we 

 have known, what is not popularly known, that the fish is 

 strongly suspected to be a salmon. There is no difference 

 that an ichthyologist o^n find between the Salmo iridea and 

 the salmon known as "steelhead," "hardhead," and 

 "salmon trout" on the Pacific coast, the Salmo gairdneri. 

 Although this is the case, and the species iridea is a doubt* 



