486 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



(Jci/r 17, 1884. 



strengthen the moral observation of Pennsylvania's game 

 laws. Is it not a vice rather than a virtue? I would be 

 pleased to hear the opinions of others on this subject. Indi- 

 vidually, I unblushingly say that I bear no love for the man 

 who was instrumental in the bill making this law. 



0. A. R. 

 Pittsburgh, Pa., July 10. 



Bears.— Many bears have shown themselves this summer 

 in the woods and mountains of Bethel, Sullivan county, Pa. 

 Near Black Lake in that region five or six were seen by 

 gentlemen from your city who lately visited this section to 

 arrange for summer quarters for their families. While on a 

 tramp through the woods Messrs. R. and S. came to a large 

 tract of low land with a great deal of fallen timber scattered 

 about and many decaying stumps. Through it ran a small 

 stream, and standing in the stream they saw a large black 

 bear. Not one hundred feet from the pater familias, as he 

 seemed to be, could be seen the mother and three cubs. She 

 was busy pulling the bark from the old trees and stumps 

 hunting for grubs upon which her little ones were feeding as 

 the insects were brought to sight. Unprepared for any such 

 sight the gentlemen thought it best to remain motionless, and 

 having no arms it is needless to say they were quite nervous. 

 For over an hour the ursine family kept possession of the 

 lowlands, until a huge stone was rolled down the ridge and a 

 terrific shout was raised, when the bears snorted, drew 

 together, and shuffled off out of sight. At least one dozen 

 full grown animals have been seen in this neighborhood, 

 which has been famous for bears. — Homo. 



A Long Shot. — Gold Hill, Nevada.— After a fruitless 

 day's hunt after geese, Friend Bob and myself were tramp- 

 ing toward home tired, hungry and wet, lamenting our bad 

 luck and wishing that small boy who told us where there 

 were "millions on um" was dead, when suddenly three 

 geese were descried feeding about 125 yards beyond a fence 

 just in front of us. Almost wild with excitement, we wormed 

 ourselves under the shelter of the fence, loaded up and sur- 

 veyed the ground. Bob was preparing to shoot when I 

 assured him that the geese were fully 130 yards distant, and 

 that although his gun was a good one, and his shells loaded 

 with 5 drams and BB, he would never be able to reach 

 them. But perceiving that the geese were feeding from us 

 and the chances for a shot decreasing, in spite of my remon- 

 strances, he "let go," and to my surprise one of the big 

 birds toppled over. 1 ran to it and having carefully examined 

 it, assured Bob by way of explanation of his extraordinary 

 shot, that one pellet had gone directly through the eye. 

 With a fond look at his 10-bore and the most paralyzing 

 cheek he told me that he "always shot at the eye, when 

 shooting at such long range — if makes the business sure, 

 you know."— Sangeado. 



Woodcock in Ohio. — Wooster, Ohio. — Editor Forest and 

 Stream: During the month of March I predicted that wood- 

 cock shooting this summer would be a failure. I based my 

 predictions on the extreme cold weather we had during that 

 month. The birds arrived very early and began nesting 

 immediately; consequently all eggs were fr« zen. What did 

 escape to be hatched were driven out by the prolonged 

 drouths, so at this writing there is no shooting. A good 

 shot with a good dog, might make a bag of from six to ten 

 brace a day. Ruffed grouse arc plentier than for many 

 years past; quail are doing splendidly, and are quite plenty, 

 the present and past dry weather being very favorable to 

 tbem. Mr. Harry Miner of New York, and Mr. J. H. Mack 

 of Haverly's enterprises, and myself, spent a few days at 

 Chippawa Lake, woodcock shooting, with only fair success. 

 — John Bolds. 



Iowa Chickens.— Latimer, Iowa, July 10. — The open 

 season on chickens now commences Sept. 1 in this State 

 instead of Aug. 15 The weather has been more favorable 

 for them while hatching; than for several years past, and 

 the coveys are all full, the most of them having at least a 

 dozen. Saw ten or twelve coveys to-day and all of them 

 could fly nearly as fast as the old bird. Do not think that 

 any of the old ones will have to hatch the second brood this 

 year. 1 caught three young mallards and put them with 

 my tame ducks. — Rand. 



Indiana.— Evansville, Ind., July 11.— I am happy to say 

 that the game law is being rigidly enforced here. I have 

 three good gun clubs who are aiding me in every way, and 

 we have been a terror to offenders. We have three suits 

 with one party, who thought he could beat us, but we came 

 out bt autifully on top. The fish law is a dead letter here, as 

 those most interested seem to take no interest in the matter 

 Prospects for quail are better than for years past. — F. M. Gil- 

 bert (Game Warden First District, Indiana). 



\m and Biver 



Colorado.— Salida.— Have seen a few deer this spring and 

 expect to find plenly in the fall. Of rifles give me a .40-70 

 and I ask no odds. Thoy kill, are safe and sure. Any 

 American 12 bore, 30-inch shotgun, modified choke, of 

 reputable make, will do good work if you form the acquaint- 

 ance of your gun. — Kokomo. 



The Man Target Again. — Salt Lake, June 80.— Frank 

 W. May and Joseph B. Tomlinson, both formerly of this 

 city, went hunting near Belknap, M. T., Wednesday even- 

 ing. M-iy made a circle in his travel and in the dusk came 

 upon Tomlinson, who mistook him for a deer and shot May 

 dtad.— Sacramento Bee. 



Arrival of SnouE Birds. —Salem, Mass. — Saw four robin 

 snipe (if. (/riseus) July 9, also about two dozen "peeps." 

 Summer yellowlegs are reported, but I have not seen any 

 yet.— X. Y. Z. 



WHAT THEY SAY OF "WOODCRAFT." 



^T^OODCBAFT" is the title of a book that should be in the 

 * * hands of all who delight in an outing in the woods. It opens 

 with a poi trait of the author, that genial old hunter and fisherman, 

 '"Nessmuk," who graphically describes in his own easy way what 

 should be taken on a camping-out trip. From years of experience 

 he gives what he has found to be the best method for making camps 

 and camp-fires, fishing with and without flies, the best tackle, etc.. 

 and devotes some space to hints about cooking. Canoes, their build 

 and qualifications, occupy a full chapter. The book contains many 

 things that, though probably known before, are often forgotten, and 

 being replete with useful practical infoimation, will undoubtedly 

 supply a long-felt want among pleasure seekers.— St. John (N. B.) 

 Daily Telegraph, 



CAMPS OF THE KINGFISHERS. 



Black Lake, Michigan.— X. 



THE Assistant Postmaster was eager to try one of those 

 wonderful abortions lately inflicted on the craft in the 

 shape of an automatic, stem-winding, cockless, chokebore, 

 rim-and-center-fire, lightning geared, wind-'em-in- without- 

 touching-it reel, and accordingly the next morning we took 

 our way in the little weather-boarded boat down to Sturgeon 

 Bay, where we were sure to get as many pickerel as we 

 would care to handle, if nothing else. We took with us five 

 minnow buckets which we intended to fill with good min- 

 nows to try on the bass in place of frogs, for pickerel fishing 

 was beginning to be a trine monotonous, and as I had not 

 yet taken a bass, every joint in my frame was aching to feel 

 the old-fashioned rush of a five-pounder and to experience the 

 sensation of each individual hair straightening out at once 

 when he made his first leap into the air. 



Dick and the Scribe were half a mile down the lake ahead 

 of us, apparently in a difficulty with something, and as we 

 neared them we saw that Dick was engaged in a glorious 

 fight with a heavy fish of some kind that was fully trying 

 the stuff his rod was made of, and we lay off fifty or sixty 

 yards outside to watch the issue of the point in dispute. 



He was standing up intently watching the line as it cut 

 through the water in a circle around the boat, the Scribe the 

 while sitting placidly at the oars waiting, as he said, "to see 

 Dick's rod break." But Dick's rod did not break, and we 

 watched the progress of a splendid battle, that was hotly 

 contested on both sides, until from sheer exhaustion the fish 

 was compelled to succumb to Dick's better staying qualities, 

 skill and fine tactics. 



"Whoa there!" he shouted, as the fish made a powerful 

 rush for the belt of grass. "Look at that, will ye?— must be 

 that old he muskyluuge o' Dan's an' yourn by the way he 

 pulls. Come out o' that grass, durn ye, or I'll jerk yer 

 jaw off;" and, as the Scribe swung the boat around, we could 

 almost feel the rod crack in our own hands, so great was the 

 strain on it and so intensely interested were we in the strug- 

 gle. We could hear the Scribe's quiet suggestion, "Give him 

 a little line Dick, and let him clear that big weed or he'll 

 say good-bye to you," and Dick's vigorous rejoinder, 

 "Who's a ketckin' this fish? back J erup; swing 'er 'round 

 'tother way a little — there; now we've got him," and as the 

 rod straightened up a trifle the fish swung out into the lake 

 and headed for our boat. A few strokes sent us out of the 

 way, and Dick again addressed himself to the fish. 



"Fool old Richard by sneakin' into the grass, will ye? not 

 much, if this old rod's as good as she used to be. I've been 

 a lookiu' fur ye fur twenty-five years, an' now I've got ye 

 we'll have it out right here without any more pollyfoxin'. 

 Sucked iu the wrong frog, didn't ye?" 



Here he took off his hat and dropped it in the boat, the 

 fish all the time taking the line out from under his thumb 

 with a pull that must have nearly blistered it, but Dick's 

 Scotch was up and he would have paid no more heed to a 

 blistered thumb just then than he would to a mosquito bite. 

 When within twenty yards of our boat the strain was too 

 great for the fish, and he came to the surface with a swirl 

 and started back for the grass again. 



"Must be a grass bass," said Dick, as he shortened the 

 line and prepared for another tug to keep the fish out of the 

 weeds. " fell ye boys, he pulls like a ho-;s, look at that rod 

 will ye, ain't she a daisy?" and then a few remarks to the 

 fish, "think you'll git over there an' profligate 'round 'mongst 

 them weeds till ye saw the line off an' git awa} r , do ye? I'll 

 iest show ye that it don't lay in yer britches to work that 

 little game on Richard when he's got his sinister eye on ye. 

 Look out there now, you old sardine! or I'll jerk ye 

 whopper- jawed if ye try to git into that grass ag'in." 



We laughed "voriferously" at Dick's quaint talk to the 

 fish, but he had his hands too full to pay any attention to us, 

 and the struggle went on. This time when he was pulled 

 away from the bank of weeds the brave, game fish showed 

 sign of having lost heart in the fight and after runnmg most 

 of the line off the reel he was brought back alongside under 

 an easy pull, when the Scribe reached out with the gaff and 

 lifted him into the boat, a dark-backed pickerel a liltle over 

 three feet in length. He was a fine fish and had made a 

 long and gallant struggle for his life, but Dick's taking ways 

 and the remarks he had made to him at critical points in the 

 battle had discouraged and bewildered him and he had lost 

 his head (literally) and was now ready to take his place in 

 Merrill's bar'l with others of his tribe who had been lured to 

 their downfall by the same hankering after speckled frogs. 

 To say that Dick was inflated with pride over his victory 

 would be drawiDg it very mild, and as we had enjoyed the 

 sport nearly as much as he had, we gave him a cheer and 

 left him hooking on a fresh frog, with the remark coming 

 over the water to us, "I'll jest angle fur another o' them 

 sardines." 



The wind was now risingagain, this time blowing straight 

 up the lake, and by the time we passed Pickerel Reef and 

 turned the point toward Black River it was blowing quite 

 fresh and the little boat plunging her bows into the waves 

 with thumps that made the spray fly. Dick and Knots were 

 coming half a mile astern, and it was a plain case tLat 

 Knots, who was at the oars, had forgotten most of his early 

 aquatic training (if he ever had any), as the boat would first 

 shoot off with a sudden fit of determination toward the 

 sandbank for a hundred yards, then by haid clawing with 

 the starboard oar he would head her around and go lickety- 

 split for the charred landmark on the opposite shore for a 

 while; fierce clawing for five minutes on the larboard oar 

 would then head her down lake for a short distance, and 

 we could see them bobbing up and down like a cork, but 

 evidently making little progress in the right direction. Sud- 

 denly, the wind would catch her on the larboard bow and 

 away they would go again for thesandbauk. The zigzag 

 of an old fashioned rail fence wasn't a marker to the erratic 

 course of that "red cruiser of Black Lake," and we were 

 moved to much hilarity at the heroic efforts of old Knots to 

 keep her head to wind, which truly impels me to say was 

 not very brotherly in us, but it must be borne in mind that 

 we were not wooden Indians. • 



Knots would no doubt gladly have changed places with 

 Dick, but the water was too rough to make the attempt, and 

 with this in miud we let our boat drop back with the wind 

 with the intention of taking them in tow and helping them 

 down into the shelter of Sturgeon Bay, but when we came 

 within hail Knots would not be towed, and when asked 

 "Why all this meandering over the lake?" said, "Oh, I'm 

 just rowing around for exercise, and as this boat is inclined 

 to be a little devious I though best to let her gang her ways;" 



"An' that 'pears to he mostly sideways," chipped in Dick, 

 who seemed perfectly content to let the Scribe take all the 

 exercise he wanted. 



This perversity scattered our eood intentions to the winds, 

 but Knots is nothing unless he is perverse, and it has become 

 a settled notion with some of us that should the blessed old 

 bundle of knots and gnarls ever fall into a stream and be 

 drowned, his body would never be found unless near the 

 extreme headwaters, feet up stream, for he never would by 

 any possibility be induced to float with the current. 



We left them to pursue their zigzag way and pulled 

 down around the "stem-winder," past the mouth of Little 

 Black and tied our boat to a stake driven into the soft mud 

 insix or eight feet of water, at the edge of the belt of water 

 lilies fringing the point separating the river and Sturgeon 

 Bay, to fiil our buckets with minnows; and I will say here, 

 for the benefit of any wandering brother who may go to 

 Black Lake, that around this point and for some distance 

 along the lilies up the little bay is the ouly locality we found 

 where good minnows could be taken in abundance, and they 

 had to be caught with hook and line, or they might perhaps 

 have been taken with a baited dip net, but this method we 

 did not try, mainly on account of the conspicuous absence 

 of the dip net. Seining tor them is out of the question. 



If a place is found around this lake, or most of the other 

 lakes we have fished in this northern region where the 

 shores are bare enough of grass, lily pads onrushes to make 

 a draw with a seine practicable, right there you will be store 

 to find no minnows. We lost no time in getting to work, 

 but a dozen casts around among the open places in the lilies 

 led us to believe we were doomed to another backset, as we 

 got nothing, nor could we see anything that looked like a 

 minnow. A sudden twitch at M/s line, however, was a 

 symptom, and an instant later a vigorous jerk sent a five- 

 inch shiner sailing over his head, and the hook tearing out, 

 the victim landed "sab" on abroad lily leaf ten yards back 

 of the boat. A suggestion that "leetle more moderation" in 

 the use of the flexors aud extensors, as our worthy brother, 

 Dr. Henshall, would likely record it, might produce better 

 results, had the desired effect, and the next one was flipped 

 quietly out and placed in one of the buckets. Soon they 

 came from all directions, out of the grass and lilies, and in 

 ten minutes there must have been a solid half bushel of 

 shiners insight, all fighting eagerly for our baits the instant 

 they were under water. They were from three to six iuches 

 long and we had our pick of sizes to suit the most "facetious" 

 bass, as Dick would have said. Now and then a four or five 

 inch perch would dash in, and with a quick snap seize the 

 tempting scrap of worm and the next moment be dangling 

 and wriggling in the air, wishing, no doubt that he had stood 

 back and strained his jaw laughing at the silly shiners instead 

 of making a fool of himself. 



Occasionally a "blue gill" or a "red eye" would suck down 

 worm, hook and an inch of line, and then our little switch 

 rods, cut in the bresh a half mile above, would be called on 

 to show their best qualities and temper in the vehement 

 struggle that would at once ensue. When one of these were 

 returned to the water, they would dart away under the lily 

 pads in open-eyed wonder, thinking, we hud a notion, that 

 some new kind of lightning had struck, and they had better 

 hnnt other diggings for feai of another stroke. 



But the silly shiners had no settled notions on the general 

 effects of this kind of lightning, and just kept on fighting 

 for the seductive worm — and even the bare hook — regardless 

 of the fact that their comrades were being rapidly trans- 

 ferred to our minnow buckets, with crushed hopes and badly 

 yanked jaws. 



It was" rare sport in a small w r ay, and we enjoyed it vastly 

 more than we would a whole day's bass fishing,' at least the 

 bass fishing that I had been having. 



Brother Muller avers that he took not less than two dozen 

 of these simple-minded shiners without a sign of bait on his 

 hook, and that he never in his life had as much fun con- 

 densed into the same period of time. I think 1 hear some 

 doubting growler say, "another fish lie naileu," so I will just 

 turn our worthy brother M. over to the tender mercies of the 

 readers of Forest and Steeam, to be dealt with by them 

 as gentle as possible, knowing that this was his first day out 

 and not in full practice. 



I believe, however, that he did take them with the bare 

 hook, because 1 was there, but I hardly expect any one else 

 to believe it; however, we have made up our minds that it 

 is "perfectly imperial" to us whether they do or not, as life 

 is too short to waste in trying to prove the truth of all the 

 details of a small fish story. Kingfisher, 



[to be continued,] 



WANTON FOOD FISH DESTRUCTION. 



r J^HE following correspondence fully explains itself: 

 JL F. Fnctieoft, Esq., Sttiten Island: Dear Sir —1 was in- 

 formed last evening by Mr. Fitzgerald, the proprietor of one 

 of the hotels at the Great Kill (Giffords), that the crews of 

 two sloops engaged in menhaden fishing have been hauling 

 seine along the shores of Prince's Bay for some days past, 

 and have boasted that they took a few days ago at one haul 

 5,000 weakfisk. They have been remonstrated with and re- 

 quested to desist, but intimate that they will do as they 

 please about it, and are disposed to be quarrelsome. Two 

 or three of the crew of one of the sloops came ashore at 

 Fitzgerald's float yesterday aud, after threatening to clean 

 out the place, engaged in a fight in which, I am pleased to 

 say from all that I can learn, they came out second best. I 

 was at the beach last night and endeaswed to obtain the 

 names of the vessels then lying at anchor just under Great 

 Kill point. One of Fitzgerald's men, John Crocheron, 

 promised that if they were there this morning to get the 

 names aud send them to me. inasmuch as he failed in 

 doing so 1 infer that they moved early this morning and 

 have probably gone further down the bay. They are using, 

 so I am informed, a net with two or two and one-half inch 

 mesh. Cannot something be done to stop this lawless pro- 

 ceeding? The resident fishermen of our own county, real- 

 izing the justice and medium of the law, have for some 

 years, in response to earnest and persistent effort on the part 

 of the Game and Fish Protective Association of our couuty, 

 desisted from net fishing during the breeding season. Surely 

 an effort equally as earliest and persistent should be made to 

 prevent the wholesale netting of fish by non-residents on the 

 spawning beds at this season. In haste, yours very respect 

 fully, Henry T. Metcalfe. 



Henry T. ]\frtcu!je ? Fsg.: Dear Sir— On receipt of your 

 letter I forwarded it at once to Mr. Blackford, and herewith 

 append his reply. These people seem to be acting within 

 the pale of the law as regards size of mesh, for by some un- 

 accountable stupidity on the part of former legislators a two- 

 inch mesh is allowed iu "the waters over which Richmond 



