.Tult 10, 1881] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



467 



allowed to box up the carcass out of sight and send it home 

 as a noble trophy of his skill as a hunter. 



Well, that deer was killed in close time, and Mr. Ham- 

 mond—it is to be hoped that these lines will be thrust under 

 bis nose, and that all his friends will see them— paid a fine 

 of $50 and costs for the offense. He ought to have been 

 more severely punished, and would have been, had the 

 sentiment of those who knew of it been up to the standard 

 of true sportsmen. As it is, a warden has been put on the 

 watch for him, and if he ever comes into the State again, he 

 will be fined for killing game on Sunday and also for trans- 

 porting it out of the State. Special. 



Uoston, July 7, 1884. 



THE DEATH OF THE GRIZZLY. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



It may not be amiss in these days of crying out for rifles of 

 greater power for the slaughter of big and dangerous game, 

 to tell a little true story of how simple a thing it is to kill 

 the most formidable monster of America. 



Many years ago, during the heat of tlie gold fever, three 

 miners were in camp in British Columbia digging for gold. 

 Just at a time when their stock of provisions was nearly ex- 

 hausted they took sick with malarial fever, and by the time 

 they were recovering they had nothing to eat, and worse 

 still, no ammunition in camp. One of them, a Scotchman, 

 named Donald McTavish, who had just recovered and felt 

 Stronger than the others, saw a large grizzly bear one morn- 

 ing quite near the camp. He told his comrades and said he 

 intended to try to kill the animal. They endeavored to dis- 

 suade him from the dangerous act, and represented to him 

 that the bear would tear him in pieces. He replied that he 

 would as soon be killed suddenly as die of starvation. He- 

 then cut a heavy green wood bludgeon and started toward 

 the monster. The bear came on to meet him, and when at 

 close quarters, reared on his hindlegs. The bold Highlander 

 swung his heavy club with both hands and by strange good 

 luck it struck him a terrible blow across the nose, and down 

 he went as if stricken by a flash of lightning. The animal 

 was completely stunned, and a few thrusts of a long- 

 bladed knife finished the business. Those skilled in ursine 

 lore are well aware of the fact that the nose is the most 

 vulnerable part of a bear, in consequence of the concentra- 

 tion in that organ of the nerves of sensation from the brain. 

 At close, hand to hand range, with an ounce and a half of 

 No. 8 shot and five drams of good strong powder behind it, 

 I am of opinion that the largest grizzly in America can be 

 killed more suddenly than a 350-grain bullet can do the work 

 even if it passed through the center of the heart. I think no 

 man with a No. 10 bouble breechloader, thus charged, need 

 be one bit afraid of the grizzly, if he only keeps cool and re- 

 members that the nose is the seat of death. I don't mean to 

 advocate the shotgun for grizzly hunting. I only state my 

 belief. Algonquin, 



Ottawa, Canada, June 23, 1884. 



FORTY YEARS IN THE FIELD. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have had the pleasure the past year of perusing the 

 columns of your valuable paper, which have been "both 

 amusing and interesting, and having been in the field over 

 forty years I am led to notice the change in style of huntiug, 

 which is very great. When I commenced handling the gun 

 in my younger da}'s, a majority of the people would say, 

 '"that boy will be a ruined child," and there was so much 

 opposition that 1 would keep the old flint musket out in the 

 bush to avoid being detected. I recall vividly an incident 

 of my boyhood. A lad about my age was always ready for 

 a little fun. The first opportunity we made tracks for the 

 gun in the bush ; we loaded the old musket and very soon 

 spied two gray squirrels on a tree; we were about ready to 

 give them the contents of the gun, having a good rest beside 

 a tree. With much surprise we found the flint gone, which 

 was a great loss to us. We concluded to go to the nearest 

 neighbor and procure a lighted lantern. The boy made a 

 very quick job of it. I had the plan perfected how to fire 

 the old musket off; it was this: To light a hard stick with 

 the candle in the lantern. I put the musket on the rest; the 

 word was "make ready, take aim, fire." Then I quickly put 

 the lighted stick to the pan of the lock. Slambang was the 

 report of the old gun, with a stream of fire at both ends. 

 Down came one squirrel, and the other one was treated 

 likewise. 



After a few years had passed, I heard of some one shooting 

 birds when flying. This looked to me a very difficult thing 

 to do with the gun. 1 resolved the first opportunity, I 

 would see how the wonderful feat was performed. Fortune 

 at last favored me. I had at that time a very cheap gun; 

 however, the old thing would occasionally get a bird down. 

 It looked tike a crooked iron bar in comparison with the 

 guns at the present day. My wadding was of tow, paper, 

 and hornet's nest. Thirty-eight years ago I found a very 

 fine little gun, 16-bore, 61 lbs. This is the gun I use to day. 

 Six years since I had it changed to a breechloader. I soon 

 learned that the penetration was not as good; a little more 

 powder is all right; how is that? I have used many other 

 guns, but no other so reliable. 



About thirty years ago I had a call from the Hon. George 

 Ashmun of this State to accompany him for a few days 

 shooting. 1 accepted, thinking it quite an honor to be in 

 the field with such a noted man. He was very fond of 

 woodcock shooting, so much so that he seldom raised his 

 gun for partridge or quail in those days. As a sportsman he 

 had many peculiarities. His time for shooting was six 

 weeks, commencing October first ; he gave me the handling 

 of the dog, as I was a little more expert in the brush, and he 

 was somewhat obliged to make his footsteps easy; yet he 

 was generally found in the right position. When 1 gave 

 him the word "point;" never mind the footsteps then, he 

 was soon there and spied the dog; he invariably uncovered 

 his head as though he intended to make a speech, then a few 

 words to the faithful dog, very soon giving me the word 

 "ready," 1 would put the bird to wing in his favor if I 

 could. Mr. A. was a very good shot ; if he missed the bird 

 he never was disposed to pursue that bird further. If it was 

 wounded he would make quite au effort to bag the bird. 

 We kept up this old-fashioned way of shooting, down to 

 twenty-two years since. In the meantime we lost our dog, 

 I very soon had the good fortune to find one. Mr. A. 

 bought the dog of S. T. Hammond, of Springfield, Mass., 

 and was very fortunate in the purchase, for he proved to be 

 first-class, and was very highly prized by his master. We 

 shot over this dog five years; he gave us some fine work. 

 At this time Mr, Ashmun was obliged to lay by .the gun on 



account of feeble health; he was always interesting and 

 instructive. 



From this time Mr. Hammond and myself took the field, 

 when we continued much the same style, with a little varia- 

 tion, which required us to empty our pockets offener. It 

 was a pleasure to me to be in the' field with such gentlemen, 

 from the fact that everything was smooth and agreeable; 

 they delighted to do, or see, a good act executed with the 

 dog or gun. While I review the past and compare it with 

 the present, I yet find it a little pleasure to take the dog 

 and gun and travel over those grounds where we have been 

 so successful in gone by days, and bag a few birds, verily 

 by the sweat of the brow. 



The scarcity of game birds in most of our New England 

 States at the present time is easily accounted for, about six 

 to every town are killing the game birds in various ways, 

 most of them for market. Our laws in Massachusetts are 

 a good exarnple to the States where game is plenty. In 

 Massachusetts, if we could have had them passed twenty 

 years ago, they would have been of great value. In my 

 judgment it makes but little difference when the game is 

 killed, a few days before, or two weeks after the law is off. 

 as the destruction increases every year. We will see on the 

 first of August an army of hunters and sportsmen; the 

 hunters start early and stay late, with the breechloader and 

 spaniel dog, one would think by their speed they were going 

 to right a fire. 



They do not find time to dress in the morning, and almost 

 need self-buttoning garments. If the object of shooting is 

 to kill off the game it is not the swiftest method to employ. 

 It would take but a few days to poison about all of our game 

 in the State of Massachusetts. Now let us all say we have 

 all been engaged more or less, iu shooting off our own 

 fingers and enact a law to put them on. Don't Putter. 



Massachusetts. 



ADIRONDACK DEER COMPLICATIONS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Some weeks ago there was published a communication on 

 the subject of enforcement of our game laws. The writer 

 asked some questions, the answer to which would be very 

 hard to give, but in the opinion of the writer the game pro- 

 tectors were not doing their duty. I have been waiting some 

 time for the settlement of some cases in this county that 1 

 might be able to show these faultfinders some of the difficul- 

 ties under which the protectors labor. 



Last September several parties wereindicted by our Grand 

 Jury, both for killing deer and fishing for trout out of sea- 

 son. All of these cases should have been brought before the 

 December court for trial, but through some chance the dis- 

 trict attorney did not furnish the sheriff with the necessary 

 papers till the last day of court, and as none of the parties 

 were nearer than fifteen miles and most of them thirty-five 

 miles away nothing was done. Before the next court (in 

 March) a new district attorney had come in. He started 

 right, gave the papers to the sheriff, who, in some way, got 

 so far behind in his business that they were not served 

 in time for that court. Some subpoenas for one case, which 

 the protector was very anxious to bring before the jury at 

 that time, were put into the mail and did not reach the man 

 who was to serve them till after the grand jury had been dis- 

 charged. The witnesses went to Malone and could only go 

 home again. At the court just held two of the parties who 

 were indicted last September were fined $15 each, for kill- 

 ing deer last June, two other men were placed under bonds 

 to appear at the September court. The case of one man who 

 is known to have killed at least six deer in the months of 

 June and July, 1883, w T as brought before the Grand Jury and 

 no bill was found. There were in that jury at least two men 

 who have always had the reputation of killing all I he deer 

 and fish they could, at any time during the year. Several 

 of the witnesses who had told of seeing the venison, and eat- 

 ing of it, had also seen the fresh hides, swore before the jury 

 that they had never known of the party being hunting nor 

 having venison nor hides in possession out of seasou. With 

 such swearing what can the game protector do? Can you 

 or your correspondent help him ? 



I think our game protector (Mr. John Liberty) has tried to 

 do his duty, but with so many things against him, very little 

 can be done. It has been suggested that these cases be now 

 taken before a justice of the peace, with a good sharp lawyer 

 to examine the witnesses in the regular way. 1 think it 

 would be the better plan, as a justice can be found within 

 the county so far away from the offenders that he will have 

 no personal interest in them. This seems to me the only 

 way to reach such cases. The witnesses would be more 

 thoroughly questioned than by the foreman of a Grand Jury, 

 who is very rarely posted in the law. 



What has been done has in most cases had a good effect, 

 but the failure to indict some of the most notorious offenders 

 has only encouraged others. One of the parties now under 

 bonds to appear at the Sept tuber court told me he had 

 always killed deer when he wished to, and always would, 

 and would catch fish when he pleased, law or no law. 



In the cases of the two who were fined, both poor men, 

 they say they have had enough and have stopped. One of 

 them was induced to hunt last June by a hotel keeper, who 

 told him he would pay cash for all he would bring, and he 

 got so much venison on hand in July he could not use it, 

 and sent two saddles to another hotel fifteen miles away. I 

 had a long talk with this hotel man, and he says his custom- 

 ers call for venison and he must furnish it. 1 said to him I 

 had no such trouble, and I am ten miles further in the woods 

 than he is. I will not allow either venison or partridges to 

 be cooked in my house out of season, and the guests of the 

 house think I am right. By so doing, we can have good 

 shooting iu season, with venison and partridges in good con- 

 dition. There is now every indication of fine hunting this 

 season. Deer are seen about the lake every day, and we see 

 many broods of young partridges. 



One man from Malone, here last week, tried to hire one 

 of the guides to go night-hunting with him. I did not hear 

 of it till the man had gone home, but was very glad to learn 

 that none of the guides would listen to him. The answer- 

 was that the deer would be worth more to them iu Septem- 

 ber. This is what I have tried for ten years to make them 

 understand. They ought to know it by this time. Such 

 sportsmen are the ones who ought to be fined, and I think 

 the guides are disposed to make such men pay a little more 

 respect to the laws. 



A party of three young men from Syracuse last year 

 camped at Gull Pond, Herkimer county. They went in 

 about Aug. 1. In six weeks they killed twenty-three deer 

 that they got, and they say they wounded many others that 

 they did not get. They killed live in. one night in a strife to 

 see who should kill the most. They could not use much of 

 the meat, ami let most of it waste. They were within the 



law; but what a record to boast of! I thiuk they have much 

 to be ashamed of. The Maine law ought to be put in force 

 in such cases at least. 



Our fishing season has been a splendid one; the fly-fishing 

 is now T first-class At the mouth of the brook, within eieht 

 rods of where I sit while writing, the small trout are jump- 

 ing by the hundreds. This is the stream into which most of 

 my young fry arc turned each year. Those now jumping 

 are evidently about two years old, on their way up to the 

 headwaters of the brook looking for spawning grounds. 

 The guests of the house acknowledge the corn. Stocking 

 pays. A. R. Fuixeh. 



Meacham Lake, N. Y., June 16. 



THE CHOICE OF HUNTING RIFLES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Will you allow a stranger to "dip in an oar" in the con- 

 troversy going on in your valuable columns in regard to the 

 "choice of hunting rifles." Without attempting to argue 

 the. matter in a scientific point of view, I will briefly en- 

 deavor to state my views in the selection of a weapon 

 adapted to the wants of the practical hunters. As far as a 

 rifle or shotgun alone is concerned, I think wc have nearly 

 reached the ultimatum, but 1 think that nearly every hunter 

 will concur with me in the assertion that they don't either 

 of them alone "fill the bill'' for an ''all round" gun for 

 shooting from a gray squirrel up to a grizzly bear. Of 

 course no rifle that is' adapted to squirrel shooting would 

 have any more effect on a grizzly than a popgun ; still I 

 think we might have a gun suitable for either. Now, my 

 ideal sun is a three-barrel, of which we have already one 

 (the Baker), but I think this gun might be simplified and 

 improved to meet still further requirements. For instance, 

 why not have an independent lock of its own, something on 

 the hammerless plan, for the rifle barrel, instead of having it 

 complicated with the left shot barrel hammer, as they are 

 now made? Now, why don't some of our enterprising gun 

 manufacturers start up a competition in the manufacture of 

 these arms aud not let one firm monopolize the entire market 

 as is the case with the Baker three-barrel? I consider that 

 a three-barrel gun, two shot and one rifle, if properly con- 

 structed, would be the par excellence of shooting irons for 

 the game hunter — say a .40-caliber rifle, and 12 to 16-gauge 

 shot barrel, 28 or 30-inch barrels, and of a weight to suit the 

 individual who uses it. I would regard it as a desirable gun 

 for squirrel, duck, deer and bear, and with this mullum in 

 parvo, a person would have all the gun he ever would need 

 for practical purposes. W. H. DuB. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have had some experience in the use of a repeater while 

 traveling on the plains of Kansas and Colorado, also while 

 living on Gypsum Creek, a tributary of the Red River, in the 

 Indian Territory; while in my hands the repeater saw two 

 and a half years of hard service. I have heard many people 

 in the East say that a repeating rifle was liable to break or 

 fail to work when needed, did not shoot hard enough, and a 

 few more complaints of the same kind. Now, for the two 

 and a half years I carried mine, I never had it break or fail 

 me in any way, except to miss occasionally, and that was 

 my fault and not the rifle. At sixty steps I could cut the 

 bottom out of a tomato can in five shots, and one of the 

 boys shut down the air brakes of a grizzly in four shots with 

 it; and yet I guess there are some who will say that because 

 it is only a .44-40-200, it will not shoot hard. To those who 

 want a bigger gun I would commend some special make of 

 rifle, chambered to shoot the one-inch Gatling cartridge; 

 then let them employ some one to carry their cartridges. I 

 think a plain coarse leaf sight and knife blade foresight the 

 best for sporting purposes, as with a coarse sight you can 

 catch aim quicker than with a fine sight. T know of many 

 cowboys who carry carbines in preference to rifles on account 

 of the coarse carbine sight. Those who wish to learn the 

 use of the sporting rifle, should go out in the West and rough 

 it for a spell among the cowboys, who will treat them 

 "white" and initiate them into all the mysteries of the art, 

 while we Eastern theorists dream of trajectory, vernier and 

 wind-gauge sights and many other mysteries of the Moors of 

 Creed. Cowboy. 



Baltimore, Md. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The pressure of official duties has kept me from sooner 

 noticing the recent articles by "G." and "Skinner," and even 

 now I can give a very brief answer. "G."is welcome to 

 adhere so his singleloader, but he must admit that even with 

 it the man behind the gun has many things to guard against 

 to meet with success. I have seen just as many accidents 

 and failures with siugleloaders as with magazine guns, and 

 but little want of care is requisite to have a jammed gun 

 that will be of as little use as a crowbar. C. D. 



Foht MoKinnv, Wyoming, June 39. 



Was Cowfeb a Wing Shot?— Cowpcr, although a most 

 beautiful writer, evidences in his poem "The Symptoms of 

 Love," that he could not have been — using the hackneyed 

 term— a true sportsman. In the second verse of the poem 

 he says : 



"Let her guess what I muse on when rambling alone, 

 I stride o'er the stubble each day with my gun, 

 Never ready to shoot till the covey is flown." 



Now, did Cowper expect to pot the covey? Could he shoot 

 flying? We think not. What an abominable condition he 

 must" have fallen into not to have had his love reveries 

 completely broken up by the whirr of the startled birds. We 

 cannot think he uses a poetic license, and fear the poet was 

 either unacquainted with the habits of the quail he hoped to 

 see "before they had flown," or was very "slow on the trig- 

 ger." Such lines sound harsh to a wing-shot. Granting the 

 poetic license, does it not detract from the romance in read- 

 ing such otherwise beautiful verses to suspect for one 

 moment Cowper should be guilty of such a detestable act as 

 he intimates? "The Symptoms of Love" is utterly ruined 

 by this one tell-tale stanza,— Homo. 



A Deer in a Tree.— While in the mountains hunting a 

 bee tree the other day, Mr. J, A. Devilbiss came across the 

 skeleton of a very large buck which had got hung by its 

 horns in the forks of a pine tree, and being unable to extri- 

 cate himself had slowly starved to death. What must have 

 been the sufferings of the poor beast thus imprisoned? Mr. 

 Devilbiss says the tree was worn by the horns in the deer's 

 vain efforts to escape, at least an inch and a half in depth, 

 and the ground was pawed up all around the base of the tree. 

 The buck was a large one, as the boms were at least fifteen 

 inches long aud hard. — IT "inters Empress, June, 20. 



