Joxv 3, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



446 



and grand was the sport occasionally to be bad with tbem 

 in winter, after the swamp was sufficiently frozen to enable 

 one to follow them in among the wild grass and cat-tails, 

 wbieb soou took the place of ibe brush, and where they 

 were almost sure to skulk, particularly if the hunter were 

 between them and the timber, and at 'times they would tie 

 very close, I shall never forget the surprise one old turkey 

 gave me. I think it was the first I ever hunted in this way, 

 and_ it was before I was altogether acquainted with their 

 habits. The day was windy, and the dry rattling grass of 

 course favorable to a close shot, as my approach could not 

 be heard. I had followed the track some little distance as it 

 crooked about in this nice cover, using the muzzle of my 

 gun to open the grass when necessary, to enable me to sec 

 the track, when in separating an unusually thick bunch 1 

 actually uncovered the old thing before it got up, which it 

 did without delay, and may be going yet, for aught I know 

 to the contrary.. I, however, do know that I tired two shots 

 and didn't touch a feather, and that the turkey probably 

 was not twenty feet away when the last shot was* fired, and 

 it looked as large as a haycock. 



The principal and about the only grain of comfort that 

 came to me that day was a knowledge of the fact that I was 

 out by myself. No one. not even a dog, witnessed my dis- 

 gust, which, it seemed for a time, would choke me. 



Foxes, both red and gray, were, quite numerous, also both 

 white and gray rabbits for a number of years after this favor- 

 ite cover was burned. Ruffed grouse were also to be found 

 in goodly numbers around its borders till within a few yens, 

 but with" the exception of a few gray rabbits, an occasional 

 red fox, and a few snipe and ducks lor a, week or so in 

 spring, that section, as a game resort, is in the past. 



The laud is being drained and farms laid out. The time is 

 not far distant when all that will remain of the old taroer- 

 ack swamp will be its history. 



On what used to be a beautiful little island in the southern 

 portion of the swamp, are three Indian mounds — so called— 

 indicating that it was once the home of a portion of that 

 ancient race, of whom we know so little. E. M. Quern. 



New York, .Tune, 1884. 



TWO-EYED SHOOTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Thinking that perhaps it might interest some of those who 

 are agitating the system of two-eyed shooting I send you a 

 few extracts from an old English work on shooting, by John 

 Sherer. He says: "Much has been said on the superior 

 advantages of the use of two eyes over one, in fact some of 

 the advocates of the two-eyed system have spoken very dis- 

 paiingly, and, as we cannot help thinking, with unbecoming 

 severity, of those who support the one-eyed plan, the latter 

 being represented as slow coaches, their practice behind the 

 times, obsolete, etc. But is this the fact? We think not, 

 and if we may be permitted to judge from observation and 

 experience, we should say the one-eyed man is quite as com- 

 petent to 'fill the bag* as their opponents, simply because 

 we believe each system to have its relative advantages and 

 disadvantages, presuming each party to have guns of similar 

 make and construction, of like setting as to the barrels, and 

 of equal elevation of the rib. But, if guns are badly set, 

 and with insufficient elevation, then it must be rendi'ly ad- 

 mitted that the two-eyed man will have a most decided ad- 

 vantage in helping himself to that which the gunmaker has 

 denied him. But with guns constructed and put together 

 on modern improved principles with proper setting, sufficient 

 elevation, and peculiar fitness for the use of one eye, it 

 strikes us that the two-eyed man has not all that superiority 

 over his opponent of which he boasts; for, if the one-eyed 

 man occasionally shoots under a rising bird, the two eyed 

 man must sometimes shoot clean over a bird which is rapidly 

 descending if he shoots in a wild, hilly, and mountainous 

 country. In a flat, level country we are sensible that this 

 latter case would rarely occur, consequently there the two- 

 eyed man would have the advantage. 



"Having shot many years over an uneven and mountainous 

 country, where there were as many shots one way as the 

 other, and being in the habit of using sometimes oneeye and 

 sometimes both, we must admit having occasionally shot 

 over birds quickly descending when using both eyes, and 

 sometimes having shot under rising birds when only avail- 

 ing ourselves of one eye. Here we allude to snap shots pre- 

 senting themselves unexpectedly, in the taking of which the 

 most experienced may occasionally be surprised, and reverse 

 the principles on which they generally act. If, therefore, 

 we may be allowed to judge equally from experience and 

 from observation, we should conclude that neither system is 

 perfect, each being liable to occasional failure, and if both 

 parties will dismiss amour propre, and be candid, we think 

 they will arrive at the same conclusion. The use of both 

 eyes unquestionably gives extra elevation; in fact, almost in- 

 definitely so, according to the judgment of the sportsman. 

 But is this necessary, and is it always an advantage? We 

 think not, for if a gun be properly put together, we cannot 

 see that this extra elevation is required, except for a small 

 proportion of rising shots at long distances, and we believe 

 that the difficulty presented even by these will be readily 

 overcome by the one-eyed man of experience, who possesses 

 nerve and presence of mind. 



"If the two-eyed system be as superior to the one-eyed one 

 as its advocates insist that it is, why require any assistance 

 from the gunmaker in the setting of the barrels? Why have 

 any elevated rib? as it is evident all this is superfluous and 

 unnecessary for the carrying out of the two eyed principle. 

 Eor, if we judge rightly of it from the statements of its 

 most strenuous advocates, they despise the steady old plan 

 of looking aiong, or in the direction of the elevated rib in 

 line with the sight, holding their heads above the barrels 

 and taking their own elevation and line of sight, exercising 

 their own judgment on the spur of the occasion, so that in 

 'this speculative system much practice and experience are 

 requisite in order to acquire the habit of accuracy and pre- 

 cision. From this we think it may be fairly inferred with- 

 out illiberality toward the two-eyed men that their system is 

 lot infallible; that they sometimes err, and consequently 

 hat their practice has not that decided superiority over the 

 one-eyed system which it is presumed to have; as the latter, 

 as far as it goes, is not liable to mistake, and is easily carried 

 out— the precise extent of elevation being already determ- 

 ined and arranged by the gunmaker on unerring principles. 

 The hand will 'to a very great extent follow and obey the 

 eye. 



"We are, therefore, convinced that in snap shots, even at 

 such large birds as blackcocks, when they slip off the high 

 'top of a mountain, instantly gliding down below, the two- 

 eyed man would, if he were inexperienced in ttiat sort of 

 Shooting, shoot over many more birds than he would ever 

 hit. This result, we think, must strike every one, even if 



experience were not referred to for its confirmation ; but let 

 any oue who doubts it (est the point by experiment— bring 

 the gun quickly to the shoulder, with both eyes directed to 

 a particular object, and he will find, on immediately closing 

 one eye, that the poiut of the gun is above the object aimed 

 at. Now, if a similar experiment, be fried with one eye, and 

 the gun be brought up quickly to the shoulder, it will be 

 found that the point of the gun will be under the object 

 aimed at, which in snap shots at rapidly descending birds 

 will be an advantage which the one eyed man will unques- 

 tionably have over his opponent." And again in the. same 

 work, in reference to the proper charge, he says: "Mr. 

 Greener (the elder), a gentleman of great experience of the 

 gun, says, 'Suppose you begin with two drams, and vary 

 the charge one-eighth of a dram each shot up to three and a 

 half drams, or as may be required, according to the length 

 and bore of the gun, and, for precision, taking three shots 

 for each charge at a sufficient number of sheets of paper, 

 which ever you find strongest, with the least quantity of 

 powder, that is the best charge, as very likely the two addi- 

 tions of powder will shoot equally' strong, and yet not 

 stronger, because more of it remains unburnt.' " This is in 

 favor of "Byrne's" theory. The book was published just 

 previously to or soon after the introduction of the B. L. 

 guns. Mr. Greener refers to the M. L. gun. Hoping to see 

 this printed, I remain, J. C. Yates. 



Mkshigwp, 



IN THE BACK COUNTRY. 



HAVING been an invalid for some years, I have not been 

 able to enjoy a tramp in the woods. However, like 

 Goldsmith's old soldier, 



"Who shouldered his gun, 



Arid showed bow fields were, tvon," 



I can recount some experiences of the past. 



A few years ago, I had occasion to visit the county of 

 Huron in Ontario, Canada. I took my breechloader, as a 

 good, honest woodsman, at whose home I was to stay, had 

 told me that the "patridgez were mighty plenty." It was 

 in the early part of December, when I left the train at the 

 station about 9 o'clock, P. M. The moon hung like a silver 

 globe in a cloudless heaven; the snow, white and glistening, 

 covered field and forest, and as my friend did hot know just 

 what day to expect me, he was not at the station to meet me, 

 I had some three miles to tramp by a narrow, lonely road, 

 that ran for a good distance through a dense swamp; how- 

 ever, the keen, fresh, wintry air, acted as a grand tonic, and 

 what with the glorious moonlight, made one feel just in trim 

 for a tramp. Soon the crisp snow was crunching beneath 

 my feet. Shortly after leaving the station the road entered 

 the swamp, the tall and stately cedars spread out their cum- 

 brous branches over the roadway, casting somber shadows 

 on the virgin snow, but here and there, through the open- 

 ings in the woods, the moon shining on the snow left path- 

 ways of light through aisles of shadow. Not asound was to be 

 heard save the crunching of the snow beneath my feet, and no 

 sign of life was visible. In spite of the oppressive silence, 

 the glory of the slumbering forest in its snowy covering 

 made the heart beat with delight. After emerging from the 

 woods the road wound through some fields, then struck into 

 a beaver meadow, and just across the meadow on a rising 

 slope I saw what 1 knew by description given to be the 

 house of my friend. It was a few hundred yards from the 

 meadow— a primitive log dwelling and surrounded by woods. 

 As I neared the house I heard the barking of the watchdog, 

 but fortunately he was within. Stepping to the door I gave 

 a rap, and the good housewife gave me a hearty welcome. 

 The woodsman, with his two daughters, were absent, having 

 gone out to see a neighbor a few miles away, so I sat down 

 by the fire and proceeded to make myself comfortable, while 

 the good woman gave me a minute account of the white 

 calf, the spotted pig and the yellow hen. It was not long- 

 before I heard the sound of approaching footsteps and a vig- 

 orous stamping, when the door opened and in walked my 

 friend. Spying me as I arose to greet him, he said ; "Wall, 

 now, here he be; how hare ye? sityerdown. Mary, Jennie, 

 this be Mr. , from N ." That man's grasp of wel- 

 come was as hearty as the tones of his voice. Tall and mus- 

 cular, and honest as the day, he stood one of nature's noble- 

 men. The daughters in due form shook my hand in good 

 pump-handle style, and I at once felt the glow of spirits and 

 the sense of comfort that spring from a hearty welcome. 



In merry chat the hours flew by, and the time came for 

 retiring. My good friend informed me that he had just 

 "abuilded this house," but they had not had time to put the 

 "pertitions in yit. Yer mustent mind, however, you sleep 

 in Mary's bed, the fur one; Mary and Jennie can sleep in the 

 next, and the old woman and I'll sleep in the one t'other side 

 the room." You may be sure as a bashful man I was not in 

 a hurry to retire, but all were so polite and easy I felt all the 

 force of the old proverb, "Do in Rome as the Romans do." 

 I took a good survey of the room, and marked the exact 

 locality of my bed, when the old boy pursed up his lips and 

 sent forth a hurricane of wind that blew out the light. 

 "Now," he says, "goodnight to ye." I remained by the 

 fire with my back to the beds until I was assured by the 

 sounds that Mary and Jenny were safely ensconced in their 

 couch, when, with most cautious tread, 1 made my way in 

 the darkness to my own retiring place. I reached it without 

 any mishap, and in less time than would seem possible, was 

 safe beneath the blankets. Silence soon reigned supreme ; 

 through the cracks in the logs I could see the white moon- 

 light on the snow without. Soon I heard a dull, strange 

 sound like a frog's bass. It was the brave man of the woods 

 snoring. His wife soon joined in musical rivalry; then a 

 thin piping sound arose not far from me, and then another: 

 all rising and falling in the clear frosty air, and as "music 

 hath charms etc.," 1 was soon lulled to slumber, and pro- 

 bably sent forth sonorous sounds from my own aristocratic 

 bugle. 



1 had determined to be up with old Sol and have a tramp 

 through the woods iu search of the "patridgez." But, alas! 

 when I did awake he was casting his beams through the 

 curtainless windows, I quickly thought of the surroundings 

 of the previous night, and cautiously took a survey of the 

 room. Imagine my consternation when I saw that my 

 friend and his family were all up and dressed. He was 

 seated at the fire with his back to me, smoking away at his 

 pipe. The good wife, with a large spoon, was stirring the 

 contents of an iron pot; the two maidens were, spreading the 

 table. Cnesar Augustus! Here was a fix. Not knowing 

 what to do, I gave a barely audible sneeze, but with no 

 effect on the company; then another louder, then another 

 more emphatic. No go. Then I entered upon a violent fit 

 of coughing, though, by the way, my lungs were as sound as 

 a bell. Tins at last attracted the old man's attention, when 



be turned and said, "Yer got a purty bad cold, mister, beant 

 yer?" I gestured wildly to him. lie took the hint and save 

 me a, sly wink and a smile, and said. "Mary, go and get a 

 pail of fresh water from the spring, the gentleman's thirsty. 

 Jinny, go and see if yes ken find Mm a fresh egg." When 

 the girls disappeared he whispered m the old lady's ear, and 

 she beat a retreat. Now was the time for art ion. Out of 

 bed in a jiffy and into my unmentionables. But, alas! they 

 were drawn on hind before, and the sound of approaching 

 footsteps warned me there was no time for a reversal of the 

 garment; so, hitching them up behind as well as I could, and 

 donning my vest and the coat, which had comfortably long 

 tails, I joined the parly at the table. As soon as possible 

 after breakfast I went to the barn to look at the white calf, 

 (he spotted pig and the yellow hen. and up in the hay those 

 pants swung around to the wind. Returning to the house 

 1 joined my honest, friend, who had a queer 'twinkle in his 

 eye. 



We then made for the beaver meadow, ne went in among 

 the thickets of cranberry and other bushes that skirted its 

 edge, while 1 kept out on the sloping ground among the 

 beech, birch and oak trees. Here and fiiere we passed a 

 dense chimp of hemlock. Having no dog. my friend under- 

 took to search the dense thickets, while"! kept in the open 

 woods. Soon I heard him shout, "Look out!" then the rush 

 of wings, and to my left, just above a clump of low trees, 

 went a cock grouse at. a rattling pace. However, I was on 

 alert, the gun went instinctively to the shoulder, the clear, 

 frosty air rang with the sharp report, the blue smoke curled 

 among the trees, and a cloud of feathers floated in the air. 

 Soon 60ft and warm it lay in the game bag; and so shot after 

 shot rang through the woods, some missing the swift birds, 

 but the most of them sent the feathers float imr, and soon 

 filled out the game bag. 



Passing through a clump of beeches 1 heard a grouse fake 

 flight from the treetpps; looking up I saw another poised 

 erect upon the top of a beech, and as it was moving for 

 flight 1 fired and clown it came and lav almost buried in the 

 fine snow. It was placed in the bag. About half an hour 

 after, as we were trudging along side by side, 1 felt a move- 

 ment in the bag. and away went this grouse out of the bag 3 

 gathering speed as it flew' through the trees, but my gun 

 Went to the shoulder, and before it got out of range I brought 

 it down. Hurrah! That was the best shot made that day. 

 The man of the woods stood open-mouthed with wonder 

 and said, "Wall now. that, were a shot." Eight grouse fell 

 to the gun that day. 



Those were, grand old times. I bade farewell that evening 

 to my kind friend and his family. He walked with me to 

 the station. As I left Ihe house the old lady waved the 

 soup ladle, the bashful "darters" flattened their noses against 

 the window panes, the white calf bellowed and waved its 

 tail, the spotted pig grunted, and the yellow hen ran off and 

 laid an egg, so auxious were they all to do something to 

 make the farewell affecting. Ot/d Ramkod. 



Canada. 



MORE SMOKE MEMORIES. 



OIjD SQUIRE N. was a character. He had held 

 the office of Justice of the Peace, when governors 

 were not very particular as to whom they gave the" office if 

 well recommended. He used lo read the Declaration of In- 

 dependence and other Fourth of July documents, together 

 with effusions, on the great and glorious day in his native 

 town. 



In his later and less prosperous days he was easily 

 coaxed by the boys to go through with the same performance 

 for a few drinks when the day of all days came around. He 

 was harmless and well liked by all. It was well known to 

 the local gunners that he was partial to loons, so all the 

 loons shot in his neighborhood were reserved for him, and on . 

 the return of the gunners, if one of these birds was in their 

 bag, he soon had it, 



One time, two parties of four each had been for shore birds 

 on the bay shore, and happening to meet on their way 

 home, it was found that one of the party had a loon among 

 the results of the day's sport. The fowl was beiua.' carried 

 home expressly for the Squire. He had said at the village 

 post-office a few nights before that it was all nonsense about 

 a loon being so hard to kill as some of the young men had 

 stated then and there, so it was proposed that the loon should 

 be put up and each of the eight gunners give it both barrels, 

 No sooner said than done, and a worse looking wild fowl 

 never was seen, although good distance was given on the 

 shots. 



In due time the loon was presented and shortly heard 

 from, as one of the boys asked the old gentleman how he 

 liked that fat loon, his reply was "Pretty good, pretty good, 

 but badly shotted. You didn't give him a chance "to dive, 

 did you? Sunk him, T reckon, 'fore he gathered." 



The old gentleman could catch more pickerel and larger 

 ones with a piece of salt pork, than any of us could with all 

 the Buell, spoons, or any of the "neAV-faugled notions," as 

 he called them ; so we wise ones watched when the old gen- 

 tleman went out, and happened on him with a small bottle 

 of something good after he had secured a prize. He could 

 not resist, a good drink, and never gave us away as not be- 

 ing the real eapturer of the fresh-water leviathan. Peace to 

 his ashes: he is gone, and we now have to capture our own 

 big fellows or go without. Rbtgnolds., 



MOOSE IN MANITOBA. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I can tell your inquiring correspondent, "W. D. W.," 

 where he can find moose. Six miles from the railway station 

 at Carberry, Manitoba, is a tract of woods covering twelve 

 towuships, extending from the Canadian Pacific. Railway 

 track south across the Assinaboino River, a distance of 

 twenty-Jive or thirty miles, to the Tiger Hills on the Louris 

 River, which shelters more of the deer family probably than 

 any other portion of the Northwest of equal extent. Outside 

 of the wooded district is a great extent of waste land, sand 

 hills, lakes and ponds, and oak parks, extending east and 

 west along both sides of the Assinaboine from Burnsidc 

 station to Chatcr, about sixty miles, 



This region, not being suited to farming, has been Wi as 

 wild as when U\e Hudson's Bay Company alone ruled these 

 fertile prairies, and is only invaded by' white men at rare 

 intervals, when some ambitious sportsman from the East 

 starts out for big game. In the whole distance f have named 

 there are not more than a dozen settlers visible from the 

 railway, who have picked out some favored spot to make 

 their home. One, a sturdy pioneer named Oswald, near 

 Austin station, tells me has seen thirteen elk iu his stable 

 yard when he got up in the morning after the first snow 

 last fall, and the sight of single animals or two or three at 

 a time is not at all unusual. My team went to the wood- 



