Spy, 25, 1884] 
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FOREST AND STREAM. 
165 
which died yesterday morning, presumably from having 
been left out and chilled by an unusually cold night. But L 
shall be surprised if the whole brood reaches maturity with- 
out any greater percentage of loss, J. BB. 
ToLEDo, O., Sept. 15. 
THE CATBIRD. 
Hiditor Forest and Stream: 
The discussion with ‘‘Byrne” on the catbird as a fruit de- 
stroyer has developed to including the thrush family in the 
later correspondence with ‘“Picket,”’ Narrowing our re- 
marks down to the starting point, the discussion of the cat- 
bird, we would have found, I still think, that he is '‘more 
sinned against tan sinning,” and that the actual damage 
done by him as an individual is small, If 1 remember 
aright ‘‘Picket’s” catbirds were in the minority, but being 
fuund in bad company they had to suffer, ‘‘Picket” says, 
referring to me, ‘‘who is in nowise injured by the pests he 
defends.” Not quite true. The robins steal many of the 
tinest of our cherries every year, and visit_the strawberries 
too, and still we let them steal. Why? Because we view 
them as ‘'Picket’’ yiews the bluebirds, ‘‘and have not the 
heart to kill them,” to use his own words. If ever he is 
visited by the sturdy little Britisher (P. domesticus), and I 
sincerely hope he will not be, he will find that that rascal is 
“simply immense” on grapes, Delawares preferred, and can 
disconnt, and does discount in our section, in this way any- 
thing that wears feathers. But why continue? I do not 
purpose to defend the entire feathered tribe against the fruit 
growers, but would ask for proofs of damage, actual pecu- 
niary loss to them, occasioned by the subject of my article, 
the eatbird (Aimus carolinensis), in which 1 simply voiced 
the opinion of many of his friends, That very able and 
interesting letter from ‘‘Mass” and the remarks of ‘‘Mergus” 
cover the whole ground. In conclusion, are eminent orni- 
thologists, such as Wilson, Coues and others, all at sea when 
they say the catbird is more of a benefif as an insect de- 
stroyer than otherwise? 1 think not, and my limited obser- 
yation confirms my opinion. WILMor. 
Game Bag and Gun. 
POINT OF BEACH, 
| | EARLNG of the great flights of snipe on our beach, I 
concluded to try my hand, and engaged my man and 
boat to take me down to the Point of Beach. I was on the 
dock punctually at 4 A. M., and in fifteen minutes we were 
under way, I had anticipated a good deal from this trip, 
haying heard such favorable accounts and being told by my 
guide that he was an expert in the business. We lauded at 
the big hotel, and the understanding was that my guide and 
self would walk down the beach toward the Point, shoot 
what we could, and then at the proper place put oul our de- 
coys, and be ready for business, the boat in the meantime to 
move on down to the Point and meet us there. 
We saw no birds, except now and then a piper and small 
flocks of surf snipe. The prospect became discouraging, 
and after walking several miles through the sand, I became 
hot, disgusted, and tired. The mosquitoes, too, were no 
small discomfort, which, added to the sickening odors sweep- 
ing directly over from Barren Island right in our faces, was 
too much. Calleda halt and proposed that we should im- 
mediately proceed tome. My companion thought it a good 
idea, although up to this time we had not rested once nor 
put out our decoys, or hardly made an attempt to capture a 
bird. Acting upon my advice we hastened to meet the 
boat, and after scrambling over sand dunes, marsh and 
thick grass, say nothing of rivers and creeks, we found—lo, 
and behold, the boat had returned without us, and was 
almost a speck inthe distance, while between us an‘ home 
lay marsh and hillock, inipenetrable grass, covering acres 
and acres of bof and water now made high by tlie flood 
tide. 
While struggling under the weight of gun and high boots, 
the distance accomplished was little gained, as a retreat was 
necessary now and then in order to get around the canals 
that shot far into this part of the island. The sun, which 
had been obscured for three or four days by cloud and rain, 
began now to shine bright and hot, while the deep-grass 
mosquitoes, brought to life by its enlivening rays, proved 
more hungry than the others and tame as kittens. It was a 
disheartening sight to look ahead and see in the distance the 
“Mnammoth hotel,” which seemed but a spectre or a shadow 
in the morning mist, made up of spray and dew mingled 
with the fumes of Barren Island, It certainly required ex- 
traordinary fortitude tu keep bad thoughts and expressive 
language from éscaping one’s lips. But with patience to the 
bone, and studied tranquility, your humble servant strove 
on, measuring the distance from time to time, which hardly 
seemed to prew nearer, 
The sun rose higher and higher, the heat became more and 
more intense, while the perspiration rolled down like rain— 
all of which gave fresh impetus to the courageous mos- 
quitoes and horse flies, which now began to plough deep fur- 
rows on our hands, necks and faces. 
A ‘“‘lonely piper,” seen now and then, bad no more charm 
for us. Pleasure had long been discarded. and business, 
downright business, had begun. Even the snowy ocean bil- 
lows hadi lost their soothing cffect, and all we saw now was 
the goal beyond and the tracks of our feet left deeply buried 
in the sand. 
At last we reach the ‘‘big hotel,” my companion, a sailor 
by occupation, and a great gunner by profession, asks for the 
privilege of a rest. I grant him permission, and bid bim 
good-bye. In due course of time L reach home, and with a 
cheerful but warm countenance I ask for a little “lemon 
juice.” I am’ then ready for breakfast, but the lingering 
odors of Barren Island so affect my taste that my keen appe 
tite has a hard struggle to make the repast an enjoyable one. 
I soon finished and with family seated about me 1 narrate 
the adventures of the morning, its heat, its trials, and disap- 
pointments. They sit in silence listening to the details of 
my story, and at its close hear me exclaim, ‘Point of Beach 
has no further aftractions for me, and now if I were told that 
each mosquito vi4 a yellow-leg snipe and that the milllions 
of grainstpf sand were plover, and every horsefly a curlew, 
with Bargen Island the driving force to scatter the birds hither 
and thit Ki giving innumerable wing shots, I could scarcely 
be tempt i. Barren Island would settle it, for of all the 
sickening, deadly odors (Hunter’s Point included), Barren 
Island stands first on the catalogue.” R. 
Rockaway, N.Y. 
[For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the 
gunning grounds near New York, it may be explained that 
on Barren Island, to which our correspondent alludes, are 
the factories for converting the dead horses and slaughter 
house offai of the metropolis into oils and glue and fertilizers, 
The horrible stenches from the try works are nauseating at 
svyeral miles’ range, and one who has once encountered the 
horrible effuyium will neyer forget it.] 
GAME OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Well, they seem to have lots of talk about what there re- 
mains of game in the far East, and I read of boys watching 
coveys of grouse with wonderful interest. Ruffed grouse 
here are almost too numerous to be called game, while deer 
may be found nearly everywhere. Orcas Island, which lies 
about eighteen miles from here, is covered with deer, though 
they are very small; it takesa large buck to Gress sixty 
pounds, Tommy Island, seven miles distant, has large deer 
like those found on the mainland; in fact, they swim from 
the mainland to the island. Whidbie’s Islands have a great 
abundance of dcer, and some of them are white and spotted, 
Now and then shooters. kill a whitetail on the mainland, I 
don’t think the mule deer ever crosses the summit of the 
Cascade Mountains; all through the eastern slopes there ap- 
pears to be lots of them. Now and then astray caribou is 
found in the snow range, although I don’t think there are 
many, and they probably come from British Columbia, Once 
in a while the moose is found west of the Big Bend. I have 
neyer seen any of the longtail ceer, but some of my friends 
killed some. Elk are found quite numerous in places, while 
there are mountain sheep and goats, I think both the large 
and small kind. Ihave never seen any of the large, but 
have seen the small kinds that live on Mount Baker, and 
there they climb to the top, The ibex, in the Olympian 
Mountains is different from either, Its horns are long, 
curved back, and covered with rings, I haye thought of 
trying next season to catch some of the kids of the white 
goat. Jsaw themin July and they were too large then; in 
about the first of June they would be small and easily taken 
if the snow has melted enough by that time to climb up to 
them, MESATCHIE. 
Wuatcome, Washington Territory, Aug. 16, 
HINTS AND QUERIES, 
M* camping-out kit consists of only what J can carry on 
my back, good thick blanket, small iron kettle, leather 
case hanging from belt containing knife, fork and spoon 
(for I do not consider my hunting knife, a 7inch blade, 
buckhorn handle, bowie, very well adapted for ordinary 
purposes), hunter’s half axe hanging from belt well back.of 
hip, a good supply of pepper and salt, some matches, also 
flint steel and punk wood in case of matches giving out. 
Although I have often started a fire by drawing the shot or 
ball from a cartridge and holding my gun parallel with and 
about three inches from the ground, fired,and so ignited some 
dried leaves, or for the want of something better, a piece of 
my shirt. Should recommend a shooting coat made of extra 
quality duck, dead grass color and waterproof—cost about 
0.50. I prefer a pocket toa belt for carrying cartridges. 
lf deer shooting, I sometimes use a repeating rifle .44-40-200; 
still I like my old rifle, a single shot .40-70-310. 
With something like the above described outfit, not forget- 
ing a good congenial comrade who can keep a closed mouth 
when in the vicinity of game, and who can creep from tree 
to tree and not step on all the dried sticks in the woods, 
something like good sport can be had. 1f yuwintend to stay 
in camp through the shooting season with one or more com- 
panions, you will need a few extras when you arrive at the 
end of the railroad part of the journey, if you cannot hire 
some one to cart your traps to a suitable camping ground, 
then there is nothing left but to shoulder your share of things 
and step manfully forward, Before putting up a permanent 
log shanty, it will be best to look around a litile. Find out 
where the deer have their runways and places to water; ut 
the same time keep your eyes out for signs of bear and other 
game. Do not build the cabin too close to the runways; 
better walk a mile or so early in the morning, 
When you kill a deer within a circumference of two miles 
or thereabouts from camp, set to work and build a dead-fal] 
of logs. Bait it with the intestines, and when you come that 
way again in the morning you will stand a good chance of 
getting a bear. It does not take a great while to make a 
good dead-fall with an axe, and, when once built, it is always 
handy. When deer are killed in different directions about 
camp, it is well worth while to rig a dead-fall for bears or 
wolves, Stand on the runways early in the morning, and 
again from about 4 until the dusk of theeyening. The mid- 
dle of the day can be utilized in looking up turkeys, small 
game, etc. 1 mention morning and evening for the runways, 
because deer will be on the mouve on or about such times, 
They will hardly ever spend the night where they feed. 
I sometimes wish that hounds and repeating rifles were at 
the equator. Still, of the two eyils, the repeater is the 
least; and instead of shooting the poor dogs, as some of the 
Michiganders do, it is the owner who suould be peppered, 
Venison obtained in such a manner is unfit for fuod. It is 
only a matter of time, and not long either, before Michigan 
will not have anything Jarger than a rabbit for the sports- 
man. IJ used a repeater two scasons, and, in justice to the 
arm, ] must say that it never missed fire or got out of order 
and refused to work; but I soon found out that it did not 
pay to load one’s own cartridges. I never could obtain uni- 
form shooting, although I tried several brands of powder. 
Some were 100 quick and others would not stand packing, 
but would cake behind the ball and the result would be wild 
shots. Still, 1 am im favor of a first-class double-barrel 
B. L. rifle. It is gun enough for all the game where most of 
the sportsmen go. Of course there are some exceptions, and 
even then a gun with but one lock and extra mechanism, 
like the repeater, involves some risk to the holder—a defec- 
live cartridge or a failure to pump, for instance. Whereas, 
with the double gun you are a lock ahead, 
Then again, with a repeater a man is apt to be a little too 
hasty, He will sometimes risk too much. He says, ‘‘if [ 
miss I can peck it toit again,” So he can, but [ take it 
that his chances on frightened pame are somewhat slim, 
Now, with a double gun he does not feel like taking much 
risk, so he will be pretty certain of bis game before he will 
pull trigger. Of course, this is in reference to still-hunting, 
t have heard (and on good authority, too) of men who stood 
on a runway where it crossed a large creek when the poor 
frightened deer came flying along followed by dogs, and 
who get as excited as the hounds, and when the deer flung 
itself into the water to swim across, would ‘‘pump” at it 
‘about three or four rounds per man; and then go back te 
camp feeling an inch or so taller to think that two or three 
men and as many dogs killed a deer while swimming for its 
life. Perhaps this is true sport. If so, I fail to see it. Did 
you eyer know of afirst-class butcher who would kill an over- 
heated animal for beef, mutton or pork? 
Now I would like to say a few words about shotgun shells, 
ask a few questions, and I hope to receive an answer from 
some one. In using brass shells one has to use wads two 
sizes larger than bore of gun, My field gun is 12 at breech 
and choked to 14 at muzzle. A brass 12-bore shell would 
require a 10-gauge wad. That would be four sizes difference 
at muzzle. hen the wad is forced through the barrel it 
bulges up in the center,and the bulk of the shot are put next to 
the barrel; consequence is that the center of the target will 
be comparatively free from pellets. Will an extra thick felt 
wad (almost +inch) be an improvement? Orsuppose we were 
to use an extra thick brass shell (for instance, same as paper 
shells), heavy enough to take a 1¥-gauge wad, how would 
that do? Iuse felt wads. I like paper shells for cleanliness, 
but the cheaper grades (say food for one shot) blow apart in 
the chamber. Now the question is, does the gas that escapes 
lessen the force of charge, to say nothing of dirt in breech of 
gun? Ifa man uses first quality paper shells, will it over 
come the obstacle? Brass shells once bought are more- 
economical, expense being ammunition only, pOXs 
Macoms Country, Michigan. 
BULLET VERSUS BUCKSHOT. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
If ‘‘Piute” is right in thinking that the majority of sports- 
men will regard him as an innovator when he denounces the 
use of the shotzun against deer, there is still left to him the 
satisfaction of haying struck a manly blow at an obvious 
eruelty. I love the gun and the forest too well to wish even 
that any should be excluded from their every enjoyment. I 
do not forget thal the time is coming for all of us when the 
eye will dim and the right hand Jose its cunning, but I fancy 
the most of us who have educated ourselves to the use of the 
rifle and learned to love it will think—and think rightly, too 
—that we can “fix the sights a little,’ and be more than 
satisfied to cling to it'as long as our limbs will be able to 
carry us to the wilds where the red deer feeds, My obser- 
yation is that among those who ever hunt deer, nol one in a 
hundred have sufficient defect of sight or nerve to in any 
wise excuse them for using a bird gun to wound deer with. 
It is all nonsense to talk about men not shooting at deer 
except at such short range that they will be sure to kill 
cleanly or eyen mortally wound. Many atime have I known 
hunters (?) to hurl their rain of pelieis over a distance of 
seventy-five yards, or even more, at a flying deer, and they 
didn’t have the ‘‘buck agne” either. They don’t really ex- 
pect to kill, but not rarely—and here comes in the proyek- 
ing cruelty of the thing—the trail shows blood, which more 
than likely serves as an occasion for our buckshot devotee to 
descant upon his skill (?), the great range of his gun, etc. 
Of course there are men who use the shotgun on deer who 
wouldn’t do this, but they are few, 
Man is selfish, grasping, and too often wantonly cruel, and 
it is not always that these characteristics are left behind 
when he goes into the woods. Since the keenest enjoyment 
of the hunter is only realized when that he pursues has 
yielded up its life, it follows that if he be humane and tender 
of heart—qualities no honest man will be ashamed of, even 
in this wicked and shooting generation—he will use that 
weapon against his game that will be least likely to send it 
to a lingering death, If “‘the game must go” let its taking 
off be sportmanlike and workmanlike. : 
I do not advocate the use of the rifle against deer, because 
more game Cun or cannot be secured by its use, but hecause 
I fully believe as “‘Piute” has already stated, that the chances 
that they will be crippled and not killed are increased ten 
fold when the shotgun is the weapon used. Neither do I 
believe any rifle using extremely small charges of powder— 
like the old Henry, for instance—should be allowed any 
place in the category of deer hunting guns, 
I cannot think as some seem to that the use of the rifle 
should be encouraged for the hunting of birds and other 
small game, The danger to human life would be too great 
when used outside the woods, except of course in a wild and 
unimhabited country. 
We all know that the skill required to plant a load, or por- 
tion of a load, of buckshot in a moving or standing deer, at 
avy distance within which a shotgun can be regarded as in 
any wise effective, is not great under ordinary circum- 
stances, and I believe this preference which some express 
for the shotgun hinges more on this one matier of skill than 
all other things combined. The sportsman who is content 
to rely on a ‘scatter gun” because it is more ‘‘comprehen- 
sive,” so to speak, and better adapted to his use, because his 
nerves are not of the steadiest perhaps, rather than by patient 
practice—eyen though it be after protracted failure—acquire 
sufficient skill to do fair work with a rifle, is lacking m spirit 
of the true hunter and foregoes more keen enjoyment than 
he will ever understand or know. One need not be discour- 
aged because he cannot excel at the target. Many a good 
man at the target would make asad failure on game in the 
forest or on the mountain’s shaggy breast; nor can the f irly 
successful hunter be depended upon to make a good showing 
at target practice. In the use of the shoigun on large game 
there is but little chance for the exercise of skill. It is more 
a question, ‘Wiil he come within my 40-yard limit?” Tt is 
not altogether the amount of game we bring to bag, but how 
it is done must gauge the pleasure attendant upon success. 
Doubtless ‘‘Wells” will use his shotgun, aud I am sure 
Pinte” will his rifle so loug as their hunting days may last 
—and may they be many—and so with all of us on whose 
locks the dust of the road of life is fast gathering, We are, 
no doubt, fast wedded to our idols, and may as well be let 
alone; but to any young sportman not already ‘‘sot” in way, 
and who even now may be thinking of buckshot, wire cart- 
ridges and the like, I want to say very emphatically, ‘‘Don’t.” 
And, further, ‘‘don’t” shine deer, and ‘‘don’t” hound them. 
The first is mean and both are cruel. If you must do either, 
wait until your limbs are too feeble to more than sit upon a 
stump, or allow of your being propped up in the prow of a 
canoe. 
I would say to ‘‘Medico” that if the object in hunting is 
to wound and disable, with no care as to how long the victim 
may bein dying, then use buckshot by all means, anda slug, 
too, if oneis willing to risk head and shoulder behind a 
charge of thet sort. ‘‘Bobolink” will find it hard to get 
guiding ‘‘fucts.” A friend of mine deposited six large buc k- 
shot in the side of a small deer, three of them very near the 
vitals; after two or three hours of faithinl following he was 
about giving up the chase wondering how it was possible he 
could have scored an almost olean miss—for the trail showed. 
