FOREST AND STREAM. 
65 
ather portion of his body—provided that it was not a vital 
spot—would heal more veadily than a ragged wound made 
by a dozen or twenty buckshot on the same spot, 
Tn this State, [ think, the shotgun is used tar more exteu- 
sively than the rifle, and I know that frequently a deer will 
earry off a'good load of shot for a mile or more and be found 
dead after its body has been attacked by the buzzards, 
Men will shoot deer (as long as there are deer), and until a 
gun which ‘‘kills dead” by an electric shock is invented I 
shall be in favor of the rifle. TRUMP. 
‘SANFORD, Fla. 
Editor Forest and Stream: . 
*Wells” is intensely scathing in his thunderbolts of wrath 
hurled down upon the head of ‘‘Piute,” because the latter is 
an advocate of the rifle in bunting. Now it is self-evident 
from the first that ‘‘Wells” is as biased in favor of the shot- 
gun, as he blames ‘‘Piute” for being in favor of the rifle; 
but let us consider the question from a logical point of view, 
In the first place, ‘“Piute” is but voicing his own senti- 
ments, with regard to the arm best adapted, in his opinion, 
to general hunting. One fact among others. should be re- 
membered in connection with ‘‘Wells’s” criticism, which is 
that the Californian’s choice, as 2 rule, inclines to the rifle as 
a hunting weapon, and it is, after all, possible that the per- 
secuted ‘‘Piute” can manipulate the rifle with as much ease and 
success as ‘‘ Wells” can his shotgun. Jt may be possible in 
North Carolina to coax a deeer to within fifty yards and 
pour a broadside load of shot into them, This, however, is 
not the case in the Northern States; deer, however plenty, 
are too scarce for such a course; to talk then of shooting 
them at fifty yards with a shotgun is ridiculous. 
The acme of success in deer shooting is obtainable only by 
the concentration of powerand force; such are to be found 
in the rifle alone in a sufficient degree to accomplish the de- 
sired end—a clean, thorough, deadly shot, Then again, your 
correspondent, appears to doubt the liability of shol to tear 
the flesh, without doing deadly damage. This in itself is 
ludicrous. But why speak further on this subject? It is 
condensed to simply this demonstration: Since the general 
trajectory of a load of shut is by no means as flat as that of 
a rifle ball shot from a rifle, as all sportsmen who have used 
both rifle and shotgun in the field must know, we can arrive 
at but one natural conclusion, which is, that when men who 
are naturally good shots with both shotgun and rifle, invari- 
ably use a large-bore rifle when on their deer hunts, and even 
then find difficulty in bringing to bag “the noble monarch 
of the forest” (for if is seld0m imdeed that deer are met with 
under one hundred yards), the shotgun is unquestionably 
worthless. So much forrange. But ‘Piute’s” critic is not 
- inclined to believe that shot (provided it does reach the deer 
at the long range) will cause torture without death, but it 
will most certainly. C, A. R. 
Pirtspuran, Pa, 
A RIDE THROUGH GEORGIA. 
{is that most valuable book for all lovers of the rod and 
gun, ‘'The Sportsman’s Gazetteer,” by Chas, Hallock, 
the author says: ““The northern and northwestern portion of 
Georgia, embracing the counties of Rabun, Haverstraw, 
Hall, White, etc.—a track one hundred and forty miles 
long by~ about seventy-five wide—contains some of the 
roughest, wildest, and most picturesque scenery in our land, 
‘and this is the hil] country of Georgia. The tourist will find 
high mountains, crystal streams, deep, dark gorges, roaring 
torrents, smiling valleys, in short, the grand and the beauti- 
fulin nature in every conceivable form, and the lovers of 
the rod and ¢un can find in its recesses some of the choicest 
sport in the South. It is a wild country, and it will be no 
child’s play hunting and fishing through this wilderness.” 
We have found out by experience that the above quotation 
is correct in every particular, and would advise every reader 
of this article who comes South for sport and to ‘‘rough it,” 
to be sure and spend several weeks in Upper Georgia, par- 
ticularly that portion called the ‘‘hill country.” 
I had lived for several years among the copper regions on 
the shore of Lake Superior, and hunted, trapped and angled 
throughout the sections I was in, and after living in Florida 
for eight years, I was just aching to “rough it” again in a 
wild, mountainous country. So last winter, when a friend 
(an old Texas and Mexican trayeler) asked me what I had to 
say about a camping trip from Jacksonville to the Blue 
Ridge Mountains, | answered at once that I would go with 
pleasure, as it was a section of the United States I had long 
wanted to visit. . 
We had a tough little mare—she had already been on a 
trip of six hundred miles—a light, strong buggy, a fine dog, 
a tent, blankets and clothing, suns and ammunition, cook- 
ing utensils, ete., altogether, with ourselves, making a good 
load for the horse. 
Leaying Jacksonville one cold, rainy afternoon about 4 P, 
M,, we situck out for the Old King’s Road, noithwest of the 
city. (This road was made a good many years ago by the 
government and used as a mail and telegraph route to St, 
Augustine, Fla.; also, as a mail route to Fort King, in 
Marion county. It begins at Savannah, Ga,, and continues 
in a southerly direction to Camp Pickney, Jacksonville, St: 
Augustine and Fort King, We have followed it from Cen- 
terville, Ga., on the St. Mary’s River, tu Glencoe, Fla., near 
Mosquito Inlet, and throughout its entire lengthone used to 
traveling could follow it in the night, as it is mainly free 
from roots and trees and thrown up in low places, also has 
long reachés straight as au urrow), This road we followed 
to Camp Pickney, on the St. Mary’s River, forty miles north- 
west of Jacksonville, pitching our tent twice and getting 
things in smooth running order, Camp Pickney exists in 
name only, there being nothing but the terminus of the 
road and a bank of white sand on one side and the ferry- 
man’s shanty on the other. We met with a mishap in cross- 
ing Buffalo Creek, between the ferry and Hoboken. The 
creck was without a bridge, and was much swollen by recent 
tains. We entered the water at the fort cautiously, when 
suddenly it deepened rapidly and finally ran over the top of 
the front wheels, running into the buggy and wetting every- 
thing but our bedding, which was on top of the seat. We 
had Lo stop at the first dry spot, unpack everything, includ- 
ing (our two valises, and spend three hours in drying our 
oad. 
From the ferry we went to Blackshear, Pierce county, 
riding, one day, through a low, flat woods country of pine 
and saw palmetto, on the eust of the great Okefinokee 
swamp, stopping at several turpentine stills and small towns, 
crossing the Satilla River three times within an hour, At 
Blackshear the country rises a little, the sand Hecomes mixed 
with red clay, and occasionally a small pebble or stone is 
seen. Theré is fine quail hunting in this section. There are 
= , 
many old plantations and much wheat and oats is rdised, 
affording good feeding grounds. Blackshear can be reached 
by a short ride from Sayannah over the Wayeross line. ; 
After leaving Blackshear we struck out for Buckett’s 
Ferry on the Ocmulgee River, sixty-five miles distant, pass- 
ing through Pierce, Ware, Appling and Cofice counties, 
The country was made up of flatwoods, rolling and hilly 
lands, mostly covered with lofty yellow pine timber. We 
saw and killed numerous quail and small game. Stopped at 
several houses and received numerous invitations to 20 on 
fox hunts. ‘Nearly every one in this section has one or more 
foxhounds of fair stock. We crossed the Ocmulgee at the 
terry on a flatboat. This river isa red color, like cofice 
after the milk is added, and quite rapid. The ferrymen and 
others do quite a business here catching shad with nets for 
ue market near; they ask fifty cents each for a good sized 
sh, 
Leaving this place we went to Eastman, Dodge couuty, 
passing through Telfail county and numerous small towns, 
Eastman is a pleasantly situated town, on high, table-like 
land. It is quite a resort for parties on their way home 
from Florida in the spring. There is one of the largest and 
finest hotels in the whole South here—the Uplands Hotel. 
Excellent shooting in the vicinity; mostly small game. 
From the above place we took tbe road for Macon, via 
Hawkinsville, Haynesville, Houston, ete. At Houston we 
found splendid fishing in a pretty little lake near the town, 
catching perch, pike, bream and other fish. Here we also 
procured some fresh-made Georgia flour and yellow corn 
meal, the latter hard to find in the South. Arriving at Macon 
we put up at a liyery, and spent a day looking around this 
old city, and irying hotel fare. Macon reminds one of Alton, 
Til., sifuated as it is among hills. 
We left Macon for Griffin, passing through Bibb, Monroe 
and Pike counties. The country along the road was gener- 
ally well settled, but there are localities in nearly all of the 
above counties where small game is quite plenty. Weusually 
killed all we could take care of while going from place to place. 
In Pike county we found a large number of Indian arrow- 
heads and other signs of the once powerful tribes of red men, 
The country around Forsyth reminded us of Northern local- 
ities. There was white clover growing all about the place, 
with chestnut trees and fences made from chestnut rails; in 
fact it seemed as though we were at the North. Griffin is a 
live town, with a population of 4,500; it is in one of the 
finest fruit growing sections of the South. We hunted near 
by; also fished in a small creek to the northwest, and had 
fair luck. (The night before arriving at Griffin we had 
camped neara colored church. A heavy rain cameup about 
10 o'clock that night, and in order to save our tent a thor- 
ough wetting and the horse a heavier load next day, we 
moved into the church—the door being ajar, as usual in the 
South—where we remained and slept well until next 
morning. ) 
Our next Jarge place was Atlanta, the ‘Gate City” of the 
South. We spent one day yery pleasantly here, Saw some 
of the finest foxhounds we have met in the South, owned by 
gentlemen in the suburbs. From Atlanta we went to the 
northeast, climbing gradually up, up, all the time, Some- 
times the hills were so steep that we had to help the horse, 
both going up and down. All through this mountainous 
country water for ourselves and horse was scarce; we often 
carried a demijohn full from our last camp. The scenery 
was grand, and grew wilder and rougher as we advanced, 
Sometimes we could see for a distance of forty miles around 
about us, especially as we neared Buford, Suwanee, Flowery 
Brauch and Gainesville. All through this section fine hunt- 
ing can be had, and we know of no place In the South where 
one could spend a few weeks or months to better advantage. 
Many of the inhabitants showed us fine specimens of gold 
ore taken from their farms. When asked why they do not 
sink a shaft and develop a mine, they generally say ‘‘they 
haven't got time; have more than they can do tilling the soil,” 
It also requires considerable capital to properly carry on the 
mining business here, although the ore is generally near the 
surface, and very soft or ‘‘rotten.’’ They are waiting for 
Northern men to move in and ‘‘set the ball rolling,” just as 
the Floridians did in the orange business. 
Gainesville, Hall county, was our last stopping place. Thi 
is a busy town of 2,000 inhabitants, and a great summer 
resort. Best route from the Northeast is via the Richmond 
& Danville Air Line. 
Here our trip ended for a time; we explored the surround- 
ing country pretty thoroughly before leaving. We went for 
health and pleasure, and were not disappointed, Total dis- 
tance traveled with horse and buggy, 500 miles. 
Lower Georgia comprises about 35,000 square miles, and 
the ayerage elevation is 250 feet above the sea. Middle 
Georgia, 15,000 square miles; average elevation, 750 feet. 
Upper Georgia (the section we would recommend to sports- 
men) has an area of 10,000 square miles, and comprises all 
of the northern pertion of the State and all of the mountains. 
Tts average elevation is 1,500 feet, with mountain chains that 
rise to 3,000 feet and peaks to 4,800 feet above the sea. The 
mean temperature corresponds with that of Central Ohio, 
Illinois and Upper Missouri. Rep WING. 
GLENCOE, Fla. 
THE PERFORMANCE OF SHOTGUNS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Having lately purchased a new breechloading shotgun, 
and being anxious to test the same, also to ascertain the cor- 
rect charge to use to obtain the best result, 1 loaded sixteen 
brass shells with various charges, ranging from 3 drams of 
powder and 1 ounce of shot to 4 drams of powder and 1} 
ounces of shot. No, 8 chilled shot and Dupont’s Ducking 
No. 2 and wood powders were used. The target shot at 
was a 24-inck circle, distance 40 measured yards. The fol- 
lowing table contains the result: 
7 
POWDER. SHOT. RIGHT. | LEFT. 
=— } 
3 drams black—2 wads...._.......,- 1 ounce 285 815 
344 drams black—2 wads.......,.-..-, 1 ounce 192 22H 
314 drams black—2 wads. .......- .-.. 14g ounces 206 218 
334 drams black—2 wads,,..,..,....-. 14 ounces, 217 234. 
4° drams black—2 wads...,......-..- 1144 ounces, 49 RBz 
4 drams wood—2 was,.....-...---. 14g ounces, 122 nev 
4 drams wood—i wad,,..,....----.) 144 ounces, 1438 | #237 
4 drams black—l wad.....-........- | 144 ounces, 101 | 5 
234 drams Dlack—1 wad,,...,.---.+--- | A ounces, 210 +p 
The penetration of the charges loaded with one wad on 
powder was far inferior to those loaded with two wads on 
powder, and again, the penetration of the wood powder 
Was not equal te the black, but the wood powder’s compar- 
ative freedem from smoke, noise and recoil fully compen- 
sates for this. The result, I think, goes to show that the 
heaviest charges are not the best by any means, the penetra- 
tionof course being a trifle better, I shall adopt the charge 
of 3 drams of powder and 1 ounce of, shot for field use, 
which many of your correspondents think too small a charge 
for a 10-gauge. 
The gun is a 10-gauge, 30-inch barrel, weighing 8 pounds; 
left barrel full choke, right medium, and as the sixteen 
charges were fired without cleaning I think the performance 
of this gun very creditable. A. ©. Kk. 
WRIGHTSVILLE, Pa. 
GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, ATTENTION! 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your last issue, I notice that you mention having re- 
ceived an earnest plea from a Vermont correspondent for the 
appointment of game wardens, efe. In Vermont the town 
jurors have the power to appoint a game warden for their 
respective towns. I would advise your correspondent to 
have a game warden appointed in his town, and if this 
warden should prove lax in the performance of his duties, 
then do as the writer has done; act as complainant person- 
ally. Within a month the writer has had four writs served 
on violators of the game laws, and should reports prove 
true, will, on his return home, have another writ issued 
against a State official, who has been caught shooting young 
ducks during the past week, At the next meeting of our 
Legislature, an earnest effort will be made to improve our 
game laws and simplify the means of enforcing them, and 
those who are interested in this matter are requested to cor- 
respond with the writer, so that we can gei your views on 
this important subject. Address, care of Forusr snp 
STREAM office, STANSTEAD. 
THE CHOICE OF HUNTING RIFLES. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Yes; ‘‘C. D.” has been very unfortunate in that he never 
has had cash enough to buy, or have built, a special rifle 
that would act as a shell reducer, or whose chamber fitted 
the shell so closely as to keep the shells from swelling on re- 
peated firing. He never has had anything but the regular 
factory gun of greater or less cost and fineness of workmun- 
ship, and he never yet, among all the guns he has used, has 
found a gun that comes up to ‘‘Almo’s” specially made gun. 
‘‘Almo” is to be congratulated that he has such a gun. Per- 
haps such guns can be made for the general market, but 
they are not now so made, as my experience with the best of 
guns, by some of the best of makers, now teaches me. De- 
pend upon it, the man who does not wish to ‘get left?’ in a 
tigot pinch is not going to depend upon anything but care- 
ful work withand inspection of hisammunition, A “‘swelled 
head” may Jose him his life, and I know of no other way of 
being sure than to haye perfect ammunition, reloaded by 
proper tools, as recently mentioned my me. I know it is hard 
work to so reload, but the surety of no accidents pays for 
the labor. 
“Almo” mentions having a gun that will hold a shell 
tightly, so as to prevent swelling on discharge; but I would 
caution all your readers and gun buyers against such guns 
unless they know exactly what they are about and what the 
gun will do. 
Kyery brass shell will expand on discharge, and, if the 
chamber is so tight as to hold the shell closely after such ex- 
pansion, there will be a tendency to stick, causing faiJures of 
extraction unless the gun is built with a very powerful ex- 
tractor that will take out any shell, no matter how tightly 
fitting. I know of one such gun, built on purpose to force 
the shell home no matter how tight a fit, and to extract it 
after firing, and I never have learned of any fuilures of this 
gun in its work of either loading or extraction. But this sur 
is a singleloader, and a special gun as well, and can, therefore, 
be left out of consideration in any general Ciscussion, 
The chamber of a repeater must be of such a caliber that 
the shell will enter easily and smoothly in loading, and ex- 
tract without fail; it must haye such a shape and fit that the 
expansion of the shell will not seat it in the chamber, but 
allow the shell to expand and again contract (as it will), and 
thereby admit of easy extraction. 
The permanent set that each shell will take after expan- 
sion is what the shell reducer has to take care of; this perma- 
nent set is always present, though variable for various metals 
from which the shells are made, and for variable thicknesses 
of shells. Yet it cannot be eliminated by a tight fitting 
chamber, andif the chamber is too tight, there is a great 
liability of this permanent set locking the shell so tight in the 
chamber that there will be a failure to extract. 
Tf shells are resized after every fire, then the amount of re- 
ducing necessary is very small, and a blow or two of the 
mallet will drive the shell into the resizing die. Thisshould 
be done after every fire, because if not (and even although 
the shell will enter the chamber after one, two, three, or 
perhaps more firings) the permanent set becomes greater and 
greater, and atime will come when the shell will not go 
home, and a disabled gun may be the result, with perhaps 
an attending catastrophe, as well as for the reason that when 
the shell comes to be reduced after several firings, so much 
permanent set will then be found that the shell will be re- 
duced with very great difficulty, to the great injury of the 
shell, perhaps to ruin it, as well as to the injury of the resizing 
die, and great increase of the labor necessary in reducing. 
It must be remembered, also, that rifle shells are governed 
by rules different from those of the shotgun. Brass shotgun 
shells are comparatively thin in proportion to their diameter, 
have therefore more elasticity, and take a very infinitesimal 
set, Rifle shells, owing to their greater thickness in propor- 
tion to their diameter, have less elasticity and take a greater 
permanent set in proportion as a consequence, necessitating 
their resizing after eyery fire as a necessary precaution to 
enable one to guarantee sure work with his rifle, The time 
does come with shot shells, too, when they are no longer fit 
to be used without resizing; but as resizers for such snells 
are generally not furnished, those shellsare generally thrown 
away. 
AS to the saving of shells from a repeater, that is entirely 
a personal matter, governed by the work the hunter may be 
doing, and the ‘‘length of his pocket.” In some work the 
shells can be as well saved as not to the saving of money to 
the hunter, something each one can best judge of for bim- 
self as to ils being either necessary or expedient. When at 
target work L always save my shells, as weli as when hunt- 
ing slowly. One can stop and pick up shells as well as not 
when still-hunting, after several shots may have been fired, 
to the very material reduction of the yearly cost for ammu- 
nition, if said shells are reduced and properly reloaded. 
So let me say that I do not consider that I haye had ‘‘bad 
luck loading rifie shells;” I think I have had very good luck, 
